Compounds, derivatives, compositions, preparation and uses

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using the disclosed compounds for inhibiting PARP.

This application is the US national phase of International Application PCT/US02/24857 filed in English 6 Aug. 2002, which designated the U.S. PCT/US02/24857 claims benefit of U.S. Application No. 60/310,252 filed 7 Aug. 2001. The entire contents of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/310,252, filed Aug. 7, 2001, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to inhibitors of the nuclear enzyme poly(adenosine 5′-diphospho-ribose) polymerase [“poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase” or “PARP”, which is also referred to as ADPRT (NAD:protein (ADP-ribosyl transferase (polymersing)) and PARS (poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase) and provides compounds and compositions containing the disclosed compounds. Moreover, the present invention provides methods of using the disclosed PARP inhibitors to prevent and/or treat tissue damage resulting from cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis; neural tissue damage resulting from, for example, ischemia and reperfusion injury, such as cerebral ischemic stroke, head trauma or spinal cord injury; neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, such as, for example, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases and multiple sclerosis; to prevent or treat vascular stroke; to treat or prevent cardiovascular disorders, such as, for example, myocardial infarction; to treat other conditions and/or disorders such as, for example, age-related muscular degeneration, AIDS and other immune senescence diseases, inflammation, arthritis, gout, atherosclerosis, cachexia, cancer, degenerative diseases of skeletal muscle involving replicative senescence, diabetes (such as diabetes mellitus), inflammatory bowel disorders (such as colitis and Crohn's disease), acute pancreatitis, mucositis, hemorrhagic shock, splanchnic artery occlusion shock, multiple organ failure (such as involving any of the kidney, liver, renal, pulmonary, retinal, pancreatic and/or skeletal muscle systems), acute autoimmune thyroiditis, muscular dystrophy, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic and acute pain (such as neuropathic pain), renal failure, retinal ischemia, septic shock (such as endotoxic shock), local and/or remote endothelial cell dysfunction (such are recognized by endo-dependent relaxant responses and up-regulation of adhesion molecules), inflammation and skin aging; to extend the lifespan and proliferative capacity of cells, such as, for example, as general mediators in the generation of oxidants, proinflammatory mediators and/or cytokines, and general mediators of leukocyte infiltration, calcium ion overload, phospholipid peroxidation, impaired nitric oxide metabolism and/or reduced ATP production; to alter gene expression of senescent cells; or to radiosensitize hypoxic tumor cells.

PARP (EC 2.4.2.30), also known as PARS (for poly(ADP-ribose)synthetase), or ADPRT (for NAD:protein (ADP-ribosyl)transferase(polymerising)) is a major nuclear protein of 116 kDa. It is mainly present in almost all eukaryotes. The enzyme synthesizes poly(ADP-ribose), a branched polymer that can consist of over 200 ADP-ribose units from NAD. The protein acceptors of poly(ADP-ribose) are directly or indirectly involved in maintaining DNA integrity. They include histones, topoisomerases, DNA and RNA polymerases, DNA ligases, and Ca²⁺- and Mg²⁺-dependent endonucleases. PARP protein is expressed at a high level in many tissues, most notably in the immune system, heart, brain and germ-line cells. Under normal physiological conditions, there is minimal PARP activity. However, DNA damage causes an immediate activation of PARP by up to 500-fold. Among the many functions attributed to PARP is its major role in facilitating DNA repair by ADP-ribosylation and therefore co-ordinating a number of DNA repair proteins. As a result of PARP activation, NAD levels significantly decline. While many endogenous and exogenous agents have been shown to damage DNA and activate PARP, peroxynitrite, formed from a combination of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide, appears to be a main perpetrator responsible for various reported disease conditions in vivo, e.g., during shock, stroke and inflammation.

Extensive PARP activation leads to severe depletion of NAD in cells suffering from massive DNA damage. The short life of poly(ADP-ribose) (half-life<1 min) results in a rapid turnover rate. Once poly(ADP-ribose) is formed, it is quickly degraded by the constitutively active poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), together with phosphodiesterase and (ADP-ribose) protein lyase. PARP and PARG form a cycle that converts a large amount of NAD to ADP-ribose. In less than an hour, over-stimulation of PARP can cause a drop of NAD and ATP to less than 20% of the normal level. Such a scenario is especially detrimental during ischaemia when deprivation of oxygen has already drastically compromised cellular energy output. Subsequent free radical production during reperfusion is assumed to be a major cause of tissue damage. Part of the ATP drop, which is typical in many organs during ischaemia and reperfusion, could be linked to NAD depletion due to poly(ADP-ribose) turnover. Thus, PARP or PARG inhibition is expected to preserve the cellular energy level to potentiate the survival of ischaemic tissues after insult.

Poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis is also involved in the induced expression of a number of genes essential for inflammatory response. PARP inhibitors suppress production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in macrophages, P-type selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in endothelial cells. Such activity underlies the strong anti-inflammation effects exhibited by PARP inhibitors. PARP inhibition is able to reduce necrosis by preventing translocation and infiltration of neutrophils to the injured tissues. (Zhang, J. “PARP inhibition: a novel approach to treat ischaemia/reperfusion and inflammation-related injuries”, Chapter 10 in Emerging Drugs (1999) 4: 209-221 Ashley Publications Ltd., and references cited therein.)

PARP production is activated by damaged DNA fragments which, once activated, catalyzes the attachment of up to 100 ADP-ribose units to a variety of nuclear proteins, including histones and PARP itself. During major cellular stresses the extensive activation of PARP can rapidly lead to cell damage or death through depletion of energy stores. As four molecules of ATP are consumed for every molecule of NAD (the source of ADP-ribose and PARP substrate) regenerated, NAD is depleted by massive PARP activation and, in the efforts to re-synthesize NAD, ATP may also be depleted.

It has been reported that PARP activation plays a key role in both NMDA- and NO-induced neurotoxicity. This has been demonstrated in cortical cultures and in hippocampal slices wherein prevention of toxicity is directly correlated to PARP inhibition potency (Zhang et al., “Nitric Oxide Activation of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Synthetase in Neurotoxicity”, Science, 263:687-89 (1994) and Wallis et al., “Neuroprotection Against Nitric Oxide Injury with Inhibitors of ADP-Ribosylation”, NeuroReport, 5:3, 245-48 (1993)). The potential role of PARP inhibitors in treating neurodegenerative diseases and head trauma has thus been recognized even if the exact mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated (Endres et al., “Ischemic Brain Injury is Mediated by the Activation of Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase”, J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metabol., 17:1143-51 (1997) and Wallis et al., “Traumatic Neuroprotection with Inhibitors of Nitric Oxide and ADP-Ribosylation, Brain Res., 710:169-77 (1996)).

Similarly, it has been demonstrated that single injections of PARP inhibitors have reduced the infarct size caused by ischemia and reperfusion of the heart or skeletal muscle in rabbits. In these studies, a single injection of 3-amino-benzamide (10 mg/kg), either one minute before occlusion or one minute before reperfusion, caused similar reductions in infarct size in the heart (32-42%) while 1,5-dihydroxyisoquinoline (1 mg/kg), another PARP inhibitor, reduced infarct size by a comparable degree (38-48%). Thiemermann et al., “Inhibition of the Activity of Poly(ADP Ribose) Synthetase Reduces Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in the Heart and Skeletal Muscle”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94:679-83 (1997). These results make it reasonable to suspect that PARP inhibitors could salvage previously ischemic heart or skeletal muscle tissue.

PARP activation can also be used as a measure of damage following neurotoxic insults following over-exposure to any of glutamate (via NMDA receptor stimulation), reactive oxygen intermediates, amyloid ∃-protein, N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or its active metabolite N-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP⁺), which participate in pathological conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Zhang et al., “Poly(ADP-Ribose) Synthetase Activation: An Early Indicator of Neurotoxic DNA Damage”, J. Neurochem, 65:3, 1411-14 (1995). Other studies have continued to explore the role of PARP activation in cerebellar granule cells in vitro and in MPTP neurotoxicity. Cosi et al., “Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (PARP) Revisited. A New Role for an Old Enzyme: PARP Involvement in Neurodegeneration and PARP Inhibitors as Possible Neuroprotective Agents”, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 825:366-79 (1997); and Cosi et al., “Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors Protect Against MPTP-induced Depletions of Striatal Dopamine and Cortical Noradrenaline in C57B1/6 Mice”, Brain Res., 729:264-69 (1996). Excessive neural exposure to glutamate, which serves as the predominate central nervous system neurotransmitter and acts upon the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and other subtype receptors, most often occurs as a result of stroke or other neurodegenerative processes. Oxygen deprived neurons release glutamate in great quantities during ischemic brain insult such as during a stroke or heart attack. This excess release of glutamate in turn causes over-stimulation (excitotoxicity) of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), AMPA, Kainate and MGR receptors, which open ion channels and permit uncontrolled ion flow (e.g., Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ into the cells and K⁺ out of the cells) leading to overstimulation of the neurons. The over-stimulated neurons secrete more glutamate, creating a feedback loop or domino effect which ultimately results in cell damage or death via the production of proteases, lipases and free radicals. Excessive activation of glutamate receptors has been implicated in various neurological diseases and conditions including epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease, schizophrenia, chronic pain, ischemia and neuronal loss following hypoxia, hypoglycemia, ischemia, trauma, and nervous insult. Glutamate exposure and stimulation has also been implicated as a basis for compulsive disorders, particularly drug dependence. Evidence includes findings in many animal species, as well as in cerebral cortical cultures treated with glutamate or NMDA, that glutamate receptor antagonists (i.e., compounds which block glutamate from binding to or activating its receptor) block neural damage following vascular stroke. Dawson et al., “Protection of the Brain from Ischemia”, Cerebrovascular Disease, 319-25 (H. Hunt Bater ed., 1997). Attempts to prevent excitotoxicity by blocking NMDA, AMPA, Kainate and MGR receptors have proven difficult because each receptor has multiple sites to which glutamate may bind and hence finding an effective mix of antagonists or universal antagonist to prevent binding of glutamate to all of the receptor and allow testing of this theory, has been difficult. Moreover, many of the compositions that are effective in blocking the receptors are also toxic to animals. As such, there is presently no known effective treatment for glutamate abnormalities.

The stimulation of NMDA receptors by glutamate, for example, activates the enzyme neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), leading to the formation of nitric oxide (NO), which also mediates neurotoxicity. NMDA neurotoxicity may be prevented by treatment with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors or through targeted genetic disruption of nNOS in vitro. Dawson et al., “Nitric Oxide Mediates Glutamate Neurotoxicity in Primary Cortical Cultures”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:6368-71 (1991); and Dawson et al., “Mechanisms of Nitric Oxide-mediated Neurotoxicity in Primary Brain Cultures”, J. Neurosci., 13:6, 2651-61 (1993), Dawson et al., “Resistance to Neurotoxicity in Cortical Cultures from Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase-Deficient Mice”, J. Neurosci., 16:8, 2479-87 (1996), Iadecola, “Bright and Dark Sides of Nitric Oxide in Ischemic Brain Injury”, Trends Neurosci., 20:3, 132-39 (1997), Huang et al., “Effects of Cerebral Ischemia in Mice Deficient in Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase”, Science, 265:1883-85 (1994), Beckman et al., “Pathological Implications of Nitric Oxide, Superoxide and Peroxynitrite Formation”, Biochem Soc. Trans., 21:330-34 (1993), and Szabó et al., “DNA Strand Breakage, Activation of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Synthetase, and Cellular Energy Depletion are Involved in the Cytotoxicity in Macrophages and Smooth Muscle Cells Exposed to Peroxynitrite”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:1753-58 (1996).

It is also known that PARP inhibitors, such as 3-amino benzamide, affect DNA repair generally in response, for example, to hydrogen peroxide or gamma-radiation. Cristovao et al., “Effect of a Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor on DNA Breakage and Cytotoxicity Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide and (-Radiation,” Terato., Carcino., and Muta., 16:219-27 (1996). Specifically, Cristovao et al. observed a PARP-dependent recovery of DNA strand breaks in leukocytes treated with hydrogen peroxide.

PARP inhibitors have been reported to be effective in radiosensitizing hypoxic tumor cells and effective in preventing tumor cells from recovering from potentially lethal damage of DNA after radiation therapy, presumably by their ability to prevent DNA repair. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,032,617; 5,215,738; and 5,041,653.

Evidence also exists that PARP inhibitors are useful for treating inflammatory bowel disorders, such as colitis. Salzman et al., “Role of Peroxynitrite and Poly(ADP-Ribose)Synthase Activation Experimental Colitis,” Japanese J. Pharm., 75, Supp. I:15 (1997). Specifically, Colitis was induced in rats by intraluminal administration of the hapten trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid in 50% ethanol. Treated rats received 3-aminobenzamide, a specific inhibitor of PARP activity. Inhibition of PARP activity reduced the inflammatory response and restored the morphology and the energetic status of the distal colon. See also, Southan et al., “Spontaneous Rearrangement of Aminoalkylithioureas into Mercaptoalkylguanidines, a Novel Class of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitors with Selectivity Towards the Inducible Isoform”, Br. J. Pharm., 117:619-32 (1996); and Szabó et al., “Mercaptoethylguanidine and Guanidine Inhibitors of Nitric Oxide Synthase React with Peroxynitrite and Protect Against Peroxynitrite-induced Oxidative Damage”, J. Biol. Chem., 272:9030-36 (1997).

Evidence also exists that PARP inhibitors are useful for treating arthritis. Szabó et al., “Protective Effects of an Inhibitor of Poly(ADP-Ribose)Synthetase in Collagen-Induced Arthritis,” Japanese J. Pharm, 75, Supp. I:102 (1997); Szabó et al., “DNA Strand Breakage, Activation of Poly(ADP-Ribose)Synthetase, and Cellular Energy Depletion are Involved in the Cytotoxicity in Macrophages and Smooth Muscle Cells Exposed to Peroxynitrite,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:1753-58 (March 1996); and Bauer et al., “Modification of Growth Related Enzymatic Pathways and Apparent Loss of Tumorigenicity of a ras-transformed Bovine Endothelial Cell Line by Treatment with 5-Iodo-6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone (INH2BP)”, Intl. J. Oncol., 8:239-52 (1996); and Hughes et al., “Induction of T Helper Cell Hyporesponsiveness in an Experimental Model of Autoimmunity by Using Nonmitogenic Anti-CD3 Monoclonal Antibody”, J. Immuno., 153:3319-25 (1994).

Further, PARP inhibitors appear to be useful for treating diabetes. Heller et al., “Inactivation of the Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase Gene Affects Oxygen Radical and Nitric Oxide Toxicity in Islet Cells,” J. Biol. Chem., 270:19, 11176-80 (May 1995). Heller et al. used cells from mice with inactivated PARP genes and found that these mutant cells did not show NAD⁺ depletion after exposure to DNA-damaging radicals. The mutant cells were also found to be more resistant to the toxicity of NO.

PARP inhibitors have been shown to be useful for treating endotoxic shock or septic shock. Zingarelli et al., “Protective Effects of Nicotinamide Against Nitric Oxide-Mediated Delayed Vascular Failure in Endotoxic Shock: Potential Involvement of PolyADP Ribosyl Synthetase,” Shock, 5:258-64 (1996), suggests that inhibition of the DNA repair cycle triggered by poly(ADP ribose) synthetase has protective effects against vascular failure in endotoxic shock. Zingarelli et al. found that nicotinamide protects against delayed, NO-mediated vascular failure in endotoxic shock. Zingarelli et al. also found that the actions of nicotinamide may be related to inhibition of the NO-mediated activation of the energy-consuming DNA repair cycle, triggered by poly(ADP ribose) synthetase. Cuzzocrea, “Role of Peroxynitrite and Activation of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Synthetase in the Vascular Failure Induced by Zymosan-activated Plasma,” Brit J. Pharm., 122:493-503 (1997).

PARP inhibitors have been used to treat cancer. Suto et al., “Dihydroisoquinolinones: The Design and Synthesis of a New Series of Potent Inhibitors of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase”, Anticancer Drug Des., 7:107-17 (1991). In addition, Suto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,075, discusses several isoquinohnes used for enhancing the lethal effects of ionizing radiation or chemotherapeutic agents on tumor cells. Weltin et al., “Effect of 6(5H)-Phenanthridinone, an Inhibitor of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase, on Cultured Tumor Cells”, Oncol. Res., 6:9, 399-403 (1994), discusses the inhibition of PARP activity, reduced proliferation of tumor cells, and a marked synergistic effect when tumor cells are co-treated with an alkylating drug.

Still another use for PARP inhibitors is the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries, and the resultant pathological pain syndrome known as neuropathic pain, such as that induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the common sciatic nerve and in which transsynaptic alteration of spinal cord dorsal horn characterized by hyperchromatosis of cytoplasm and nucleoplasm (so-called “dark” neurons) occurs. Mao et al., Pain, 72:355-366 (1997).

PARP inhibitors have also been used to extend the lifespan and proliferative capacity of cells including treatment of diseases such as skin aging, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy, degenerative diseases of skeletal muscle involving replicative senescence, age-related muscular degeneration, immune senescence, AIDS, and other immune senescence diseases; and to alter gene expression of senescent cells. WO 98/27975.

Large numbers of known PARP inhibitors have been described in Banasik et al., “Specific Inhibitors of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Synthetase and Mono(ADP-Ribosyl)-Transferase”, J. Biol. Chem., 267:3, 1569-75 (1992), and in Banasik et al., “Inhibitors and Activators of ADP-Ribosylation Reactions”, Molec. Cell. Biochem., 138:185-97 (1994). However, effective use of these PARP inhibitors, in the ways discussed above, has been limited by the concurrent production of unwanted side-effects (Milam et al., “Inhibitors of Poly(Adenosine Diphosphate-Ribose) Synthesis: Effect on Other Metabolic Processes”, Science, 223:589-91 (1984)).

A recent comprehensive review of the state of the art has been published by Li and Zhang in IDrugs 2001, 4(7): 804-812 (PharmaPress Ltd ISSN 1369-7056).

There continues to be a need for effective and potent PARP inhibitors which produce minimal side-effects. The present invention provides compounds, compositions for, and methods of, inhibiting PARP activity for treating and/or preventing cellular, tissue and/or organ damage resulting from cell damage or death due to, for example, necrosis or apoptosis. The compounds and compositions of the present invention are specifically useful in ameliorating, treating and/or preventing neural tissue or cell damage, including that following focal ischemia and reperfusion injury. Generally, inhibition of PARP activity spares the cell from energy loss, preventing irreversible depolarization of the neurons and, thus, provides neuroprotection. While not wishing to be bound by any mechanistic theory, the inhibition of PARP activity by use of the compounds, compositions and methods of the present invention is believed to protect cells, tissue and organs by protection against the ill-effects of reactive free radicals and nitric oxide. The present invention therefore also provides methods of treating and/or preventing cells, tissue and/or organs from reactive free radical and/or nitric oxide induced damage or injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compounds which inhibit poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (“PARP”), compositions containing these compounds and methods for making and using these PARP inhibitors to treat, prevent and/or ameliorate the effects of the conditions described herein.

Compounds of the present invention are, in one embodiment, described by the following Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, prodrug, or mixtures thereof, wherein:

-   -   R₂ hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, amino,         alkylamino, carboxy, ester, and the ring containing R₂ may         contain 1 or 2 R₂ substituents, R₂ is preferably at least         present at the 5 position of the compound of formula (I);     -   R₃ is hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, amino, nitroso, methyl or         carboxylic acid, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkanol,         cycloalkyl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, aryl alkoxy, aryloxy,         alkylamino, arylamino, CH₂COOH, ester, aralkyl, wherein         optionally R₂ and R₃ are not both hydrogen;     -   R₁ is hydrogen or —QP,         -   wherein Q is one of

-   -   -   P is Z-(N(R₅R₆)), such as Z-N(R₅R₆), Z or a 5 or 6 membered             substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or non-aromatic ring             which contains 0, 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from the             group consisting of O, N, S and a combination of two or             three of O, N and S;         -   wherein A is carbon or S═O;         -   X is O, S, N or an N-substituted amino acid; provided that,         -   when X is O or S, then Y is absent,         -   when X is N, then Y is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ straight or branched             chain alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy or alkyl amino,             or Y and Z are taken together to form a 5, 6 or 7 membered             substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aromatic or             non-aromatic ring which contains 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms             selected from O, N, S and mixtures combination;         -   Z is hydrogen, a direct bond, a carbonyl, an optionally             substituted C₁-C₅ straight or branched chain alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom,             carboxy, optionally substituted C₁-C₆ ether, aryl or             heteroaryl, alkylalkenyl, alkynyl, alkylhalo, straight or             branched chain or CH₂COOH; optionally when P is Z then Z is             not hydrogen;         -   R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower             alkenyl, lower alkanol, heterocycle, heteroaryl, alkylhalo,             alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkynyl, aryl,             benzyl, alkylester, arylalkyl, CH₂COOH, or R₅ and R₆ taken             together form a 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 membered substituted or             unsubstituted heterocyclic or cycloalkyl ring containing 1,             2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, N, S and combinations             thereof;

    -   wherein the ring containing R₁ may contain 1, 2 or 3 such         substituents; R₁ is preferably substituted at the 9 and/or 10         positions of the compound of formula (I); R₁ is optionally not         substituted at the 8 and/or 11 position of the compound of         formula (I);

    -   U is oxygen or sulfur; and

    -   W is O, S, C═O, NR₃, CHOH, or CHNH₂.

Further compounds of the present invention are described by the following general formula (II):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, prodrug, or mixtures thereof, wherein:

-   -   m is 0, 1, 2 or 3;     -   L is —(C(R₇R₈))_(n)—, —(N(R₉))_(n)—, —C(R₇R₈)—N(R₉)— or         —N(R₉)—C(R₇R₈)—;     -   n=0, 1 or 2;     -   R₂ is a hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, amino,         alkylamino, carboxy, or ester;     -   R₇ and R₈ are independently any of an hydrogen, hydroxyl,         halogen, or an optionally substituted amino, nitroso, carboxylic         acid, sulfonyl, sulfoxide, sulfonamide, carbonyl, lower alkyl,         lower alkenyl, lower alkanol, cycloalkyl, heterocycle,         heteroaryl, aryl alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino,         CH₂COOH, ester, aralkyl;     -   R₉ is an hydrogen, hydroxyl, optionally substituted amino,         nitroso, methyl or carboxylic acid, lower alkyl, sulfonyl,         sulfoxide, sulfonamide, carbonyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkanol,         cycloalkyl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,         alkylamino, arylamino, CH₂COOH, ester, aralkyl or         —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀alkyl)N(R₅R₆); and     -   R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower         alkenyl, lower alkanol, heterocycle, heteroaryl, alkylhalo,         alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkynyl, aryl, benzyl,         alkylester, arylalkyl, CH₂COOH, or R₅ and R₆ taken together form         a 4, 5, 6, 7,or 8 membered substituted or unsubstituted         heterocyclic or cycloalkyl ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms         selected from O, N, S and combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the distribution of the cross-sectional infarct area at representative levels along the rostrocaudal axis, as measured from the interaural line in non-treated animals and in animals treated with 10 mg/kg of 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)-botoxyl]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone.

FIG. 2 shows the effect of intraperitoneal administration of 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)-butoxy]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone on the infarct volume.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention pertains to compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, methods of using the same, and process of making the same, wherein such compounds are useful as inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). As such, they treat or prevent neural tissue damage resulting from cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis, cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury or neurodegenerative diseases in an animal; they extend the lifespan and proliferative capacity of cells and thus can be used to treat or prevent diseases associated therewith; they alter gene expression of senescent cells; and they radiosensitize hypoxic tumor cells. Preferably, the compounds of the invention treat or prevent tissue damage resulting from cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis, and/or effect neuronal activity, either mediated or not mediated by NMDA toxicity. These compounds are thought to interfere with more than the glutamate neurotoxicity and NO-mediated biological pathways. Further, the compounds of the invention can treat or prevent other tissue damage related to PARP activation. The present invention provides compounds which inhibit poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (“PARP”), compositions containing these compounds and methods for using these PARP inhibitors to treat, prevent and/or ameliorate the effects of the conditions described herein.

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, prodrug, or mixtures thereof, wherein:

-   -   R₂ hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, amino,         alkylamino, carboxy, ester, and the ring containing R₂ may         contain 1 or 2 R₂ substituents, R₂ is preferably at least         present at the 5 position of the compound of formula (I);     -   R₃ is hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, amino, nitroso, methyl or         carboxylic acid, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkanol,         cycloalkyl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, aryl alkoxy, aryloxy,         alkylamino, arylamino, CH₂COOH, ester, aralkyl, wherein         optionally R₂ and R₃ are not both hydrogen;     -   R₁ is hydrogen or —QP,         -   wherein Q is one of

-   -   -   P is Z-(N(R₅R₆)), such as Z-N(R₅R₆), Z or a 5 or 6 membered             substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or non-aromatic ring             which contains 0, 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from the             group consisting of O, N, S and a combination of two or             three of O, N and S;         -   wherein A is carbon or S═O;         -   X is O, S, N or an N-substituted amino acid; provided that,         -   when X is O or S, then Y is absent,         -   when X is N, then Y is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ straight or branched             chain alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy or alkyl amino,             or Y and Z are taken together to form a 5, 6 or 7 membered             substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aromatic or             non-aromatic ring which contains 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms             selected from O, N, S and mixtures combination;         -   Z is hydrogen, a direct bond, a carbonyl, an optionally             substituted C₁-C₅ straight or branched chain alkyl,             cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom,             carboxy, optionally substituted C₁-C₆ ether, aryl or             heteroaryl, alkylalkenyl, alkynyl, alkylhalo, straight or             branched chain or CH₂COOH; optionally when P is Z then Z is             not hydrogen;         -   R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower             alkenyl, lower alkanol, heterocycle, heteroaryl, alkylhalo,             alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkynyl, aryl,             benzyl, alkylester, arylalkyl, CH₂COOH, or R₅ and R₆ taken             together form a 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 membered substituted or             unsubstituted heterocyclic or cycloalkyl ring containing 1,             2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, N, S and combinations             thereof;

    -   wherein the ring containing R₁ may contain 1, 2 or 3 such         substituents; R₁ is preferably substituted at the 9 and/or 10         positions of the compound of formula (I); R₁ is optionally not         substituted at the 8 and/or 11 position of the compound of         formula (I);

    -   U is oxygen or sulfur; and

    -   W is O, S, C═O, NR₃, CHOH, or CHNH₂.

Further compounds of the present invention are described by the following general formula (II):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, prodrug, or mixtures thereof, wherein:

-   -   m is 0, 1, 2 or 3;     -   L is —(C(R₇R₈))_(n)—, —(N(R₉))_(n)—, —C(R₇R₈)—N(R₉)— or         —N(R₉)—C(R₇R₈)—;     -   n=0, 1 or 2;     -   R₂ is a hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, amino,         alkylamino, carboxy, or ester;     -   R₇ and R₈ are independently any of an hydrogen, hydroxyl,         halogen, or an optionally substituted amino, nitroso, carboxylic         acid, sulfonyl, sulfoxide, sulfonamide, carbonyl, lower alkyl,         lower alkenyl, lower alkanol, cycloalkyl, heterocycle,         heteroaryl, aryl alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino,         CH₂COOH, ester, aralkyl;     -   R₉ is an hydrogen, hydroxyl, optionally substituted amino,         nitroso, methyl or carboxylic acid, lower alkyl, sulfonyl,         sulfoxide, sulfonamide, carbonyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkanol,         cycloalkyl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy,         alkylamino, arylamino, CH₂COOH, ester, aralkyl or         —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀alkyl)N(R₅R₆); and     -   R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower         alkenyl, lower alkanol, heterocycle, heteroaryl, alkylhalo,         alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkynyl, aryl, benzyl,         alkylester, arylalkyl, CH₂COOH, or R₅ and R₆ taken together form         a 4, 5, 6, 7,or 8 membered substituted or unsubstituted         heterocyclic or cycloalkyl ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms         selected from O, N, S and combinations thereof.

When L is C(R₇R₈) and n=2 and R₇ is hydrogen, R₈ is preferably not branched or straight chain C₁-C₄ alkyl.

When L is C(R₇R₈) and n=2 and R₇ and R₈ are preferably not a 5 membered heterocycle containing two oxygen atoms.

When L is C(R₇R₈) and n=1 or 2 and R₇ and R₈ are preferably not both hydrogen or form together a substituted or unsubstituted fused benzene ring.

When L is —C(R₇R₈)—N(R₉)— or —N(R₉)—C(R₇R₈)— and n=0, then preferably not all of R₇, R₈ and R₉ are not all hydrogen.

In one embodiment, the compounds of the invention are described by the compounds of Formulas I and II, wherein R₂ is hydrogen, Q is

and X is N. Preferred compounds of this embodiment are further defined by A as carbon and P as Z-N(R₅R₆), more preferably where R₅ and R₆ form a 5 or 6 membered substituted or unsubstituted heterocycle. Alternative compounds of the preferred compounds of this embodiment are further defined by R₅ and R₆ being independently selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, alkoxy, alkylamino and CH₂COOH.

In another embodiment, the compounds of the invention are described by the compounds of Formulas I and II, wherein R₂ is hydrogen, Q is

and X is N and A as S═O. Preferred embodiments include compounds wherein and P is a 5 or 6 membered substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or non-aromatic ring which contains 0, 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, N, S and a combination of two or three of O, N and S. Z in these compounds is preferably an aromatic ring containing 0 heteroatoms.

In a further embodiment, the compounds of the invention are described by the compounds of Formulas I and II, wherein R₂ is hydrogen, Q is

and X is N. Preferred embodiments include compounds wherein and Z and Y are taken together to form a 5, 6 or 7 membered substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aromatic or non-aromatic ring, preferably a non-aromatic ring. Alternatively preferred compounds of this embodiment include compounds wherein P is Z-N(R₅R₆).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, U is O.

Compositions containing these preferred and alternate embodiments and methods of making and using the same, as described herein, are also preferred

Preferably, the compounds of the invention exhibit an IC₅₀ for inhibiting PARP in vitro, as measured by the methods described herein, of about 20:M or less, preferably less than about 10:M, more preferably less than about 1:M, or less than 0.1:M, most preferably less than about 0.01:M.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention include the following compounds (where compound numbers are shown over each compound with the IC₅₀ value of each shown in parentheses), and neutral forms thereof, where appropriate:

Broadly, the compounds and compositions of the present invention can be used to treat or prevent cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis, cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury or neurodegenerative diseases in an animal, such as a human. The compounds and compositions of the present invention can be used to extend the lifespan and proliferative capacity of cells and thus can be used to treat or prevent diseases associated therewith; they alter gene expression of senescent cells; and they radiosensitize hypoxic tumor cells. Preferably, the compounds and compositions of the invention can be used to treat or prevent tissue damage resulting from cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis, and/or effect neuronal activity, either mediated or not mediated by NMDA toxicity. The compounds of the present invention are not limited to being useful in treating glutamate mediated neurotoxicity and/or NO-mediated biological pathways. Further, the compounds of the invention can be used to treat or prevent other tissue damage related to PARP activation, as described herein.

The present invention provides compounds which inhibit the in vitro and/or in vivo polymerase activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and compositions containing the disclosed compounds.

The present invention provides methods to inhibit, limit and/or control the in vitro and/or in vivo polymerase activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in any of solutions, cells, tissues, organs or organ systems. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods of limiting or inhibiting PARP activity in a mammal, such as a human, either locally or systemically.

The present invention provides methods to treat and/or prevent diseases, syndromes and/or conditions exacerbated by or involving the increased generation of PARP. These methods involve application or administration of the compounds of the present invention to cells, tissues, organs or organ systems of a person in need of such treatment or prevention.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods to treat and/or prevent cardiovascular tissue damage, or lessen the severity or delay the onset of damage, resulting from cardiac ischemia or reperfusion injury. Reperfusion injury, for instance, occurs at the termination of cardiac bypass procedures or during cardiac arrest when the heart, once prevented from receiving blood, begins to reperfuse and these methods involve administration of the compounds and compositions of the present invention preferably prior to, or immediately subsequent to reperfusion, such that reperfusion injury is prevented, treated, delayed or reduced. The present invention also provides methods of preventing and/or treating vascular stroke, cardiovascular disorders

In another embodiment, the present invention provides in vitro or in vivo methods to extend or increase the lifespan and/or proliferation capacity of cells and thus also methods to treat and/or prevent diseases associated therewith and induced or exacerbated by cellular senescence including skin aging, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy, degenerative diseases of skeletal muscle involving replicative senescence, age-related muscular degeneration, immune senescence, AIDS and other immune senescence diseases, and other diseases associated with cellular senescence and aging, as well as to alter the gene expression of senescent cells.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides methods of treating or preventing or ameliorating the effect of cancer and/or to radiosensitize hypoxic tumor cells to render the tumor cells more susceptible to radiation therapy and thereby to prevent the tumor cells from recovering from potentially lethal damage of DNA after radiation therapy. A method of this embodiment is directed to specifically and preferentially radiosensitizing tumor cells rendering the tumor cells more susceptible to radiation therapy than non-tumor cells.

In yet another embodiment the present invention provides methods of preventing and/or treating and/or delaying the onset and/or lessening the severity of vascular stroke, cardiovascular disorders; to treat other conditions and/or disorders such as age-related muscular degeneration, AIDS and other immune senescence diseases, inflammation, arthritis, gout, atherosclerosis, cachexia, cancer, degenerative diseases of skeletal muscle involving replicative senescence, diabetes, head trauma, spinal chord injury, immune senescence, gout, inflammatory bowel disorders (such as colitis and Crohn's disease), acute pancreatitis, mucositis, hemorrhagic shock, splanchnic artery occlusion shock, multiple organ failure (such as involving any of the kidney, liver, renal, pulmonary, retinal, pancreatic and/or skeletal muscles systems), acute autoimmune thyroiditis, muscular dystrophy, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic and/or acute pain (such as neuropathic pain), renal failure, retinal ischemia, septic shock (such as endotoxic shock), local and/or remote endothelial cell dysfunction (such are recognized by endo-dependent relaxant responses and up-regulation of adhesion molecules), inflammation and skin aging.

The compounds of the present invention may be administered, for example, parenterally, to a person diagnosed with acute retinal ischemia or acute vascular stroke, either by intermittent or continuous intravenous administration, by either a single dose or a series of divided doses. Compounds of the invention may be used in combination or sequentially. The compound of the invention can be administered by intermittent or continuous administration via implantation of a biocompatible, biodegradable polymeric matrix delivery system containing at least one compound of formulas I and II or via a subdural pump inserted to administer the compound directly to the infarct area of the brain.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides methods to extend the lifespan and proliferative capacity of cells, such as, for example, in using the compounds of the invention as general mediators in the generation of oxidants, proinflammatory mediators and/or cytokines, and/or general mediators of leukocyte infiltration, calcium ion overload, phospholipid peroxidation, impaired nitric oxide metabolism and/or reduced ATP production

For example, the compounds of the invention can treat or prevent cardiovascular tissue damage resulting from cardiac ischemia or reperfusion injury. Reperfusion injury, for instance, occurs at the termination of cardiac bypass procedures or during cardiac arrest when the heart, once prevented from receiving blood, begins to reperfuse.

The compounds of the present invention can also be used to extend or increase the lifespan or proliferation of cells and thus to treat or prevent diseases associated therewith and induced or exacerbated by cellular senescence including skin aging, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy, degenerative diseases of skeletal muscle involving replicative senescence, age-related muscular degeneration, immune senescence, AIDS and other immune senescence diseases, and other diseases associated with cellular senescence and aging, as well as to alter the gene expression of senescent cells. These compounds can also be used to treat cancer and to radiosensitize hypoxic tumor cells to render the tumor cells more susceptible to radiation therapy and to prevent the tumor cells from recovering from potentially lethal damage of DNA after radiation therapy, presumably by their ability to prevent DNA repair. The compounds of the present invention can be used to prevent or treat vascular stroke; to treat or prevent cardiovascular disorders; to treat other conditions and/or disorders such as age-related muscular degeneration, AIDS and other immune senescence diseases, inflammation, arthritis, gout, atherosclerosis, cachexia, cancer, degenerative diseases of skeletal muscle involving replicative senescence, diabetes, head trauma, immune senescence, gout, inflammatory bowel disorders (such as colitis and Crohn's disease), muscular dystrophy, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic and/or acute pain (such as neuropathic pain), renal failure, retinal ischemia, septic shock (such as endotoxic shock), and skin aging.

Preferably, the compounds of the invention act as PARP inhibitors to treat or prevent or lessen the severity or delay the onset of tissue damage resulting from cell death or damage due to necrosis or apoptosis; to treat or prevent neural tissue damage resulting from cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury or neurodegenerative diseases in an animal; to extend and increase the lifespan and proliferative capacity of cells; to alter gene expression of senescent cells; and to radiosensitize tumor cells.

Another especially preferred embodiment of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition which comprises (i) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of formulas I or II; and (ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

As used herein, “alkyl” or lower alkyl means a branched or unbranched saturated hydrocarbon chain comprising a designated number of carbon atoms, for example, a C₁-C₆ or C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched alkyl hydrocarbon chain. Examples of alkyl or lower alkyl includes, but is not limited to, substituents such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, and the like, unless otherwise indicated.

Optional substitutions of alkyl and ether chains include mercapto, carboxy, hydroxy, or phenyl, benzyl, or phenylethyl, which may themselves be substituted by hydroxy, halo, methoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, amine and carboxy.

“Alkenyl” means a branched or unbranched unsaturated hydrocarbon chain comprising a designated number of carbon atoms, for example, a C₁-C₆ or C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched alkyl hydrocarbon chain having at least one double bond. Examples include, but is not limited to, substituents such as ethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, butenyl, iso-butenyl, tert-butenyl, n-pentenyl, n-hexenyl, and the like, unless otherwise indicated.

“Alkoxy”, means the group —OR wherein R is alkyl as herein defined. Preferably, R is a branched or unbranched saturated hydrocarbon chain containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

“Cyclo”, used herein as a prefix, refers to a structure characterized by a closed ring. Cycloalkyl of the present invention includes 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms.

“Halo” means at least one fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo moiety, unless otherwise indicated.

“Amino” compounds include amine (NH₂) as well as substituted amino groups comprising alkyls of one through ten carbons.

“aryl” or “heteroaryl” means a moiety which is substituted or unsubstituted, especially a cyclic or fused cyclic ring and includes a mono-, bi-, or tricyclic, carbo- or heterocyclic ring, such as a 5, 6, 7 or 8 membered ring, wherein the ring is either unsubstituted or substituted in, for example, one to five position(s) with halo, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, —C(O)—O(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), carboxy, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, cyano, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, and sulfonyl; wherein the individual ring sizes are preferably 5-8 members; wherein the heterocyclic ring contains 1-4 heteroatom(s) selected from the group consisting of O, N, or S or their mixture; wherein aromatic or tertiary alkyl amines are optionally oxidized to a corresponding N-oxide. Heteroaryls may be attached to other rings or substituted through the heteroatom and/or carbon atom of the ring. Aryl will be recognized to contain carbon atoms whereas heteroaryl rings contain at least one heteroatom. Particularly preferred aryl or heteroaryl moieties include but are not limited to phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, piperidino, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, furyl, thiophenyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, and thienyl.

“Phenyl” includes all possible isomeric phenyl radicals, optionally monosubstituted or multi-substituted with substituents selected from the group consisting of amino, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkenyl, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, ester, thioester, alkoxy, alkenoxy, cyano, nitro, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, thioalkyl, sulfonyl, hydroxy, halo, haloalkyl, NR₁₀ wherein R₁₀ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₀)-straight or branched chain alkyl, (C₃-C₁₀) straight or branched chain alkenyl or alkynyl and 2, 3 or 4 fused phenyl rings.

Heterocycloalkyls are cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom, to form a heterocyclic ring, and include saturated C₃-C₈ rings, preferably C₅ or C₆ or C₇ rings, wherein at 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from O, N or S may be optionally substituted for a carbon atom of the ring. Cycloalkyls optionally containing at least one heteroatom, as described above, may be substituted by or fused to at least one 5 or 6 membered aryl or heteroaryl and/or substituted by at least one of amino, C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkanol, C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkylamino, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₀ alkenyl, or benzyl, or phenyl or phenylethyl wherein the ring may be substituted as described above for substitutions of “Phenyl”.

Preferred cycloalkyls containing at least one heteroatom include

pyrrolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholino and thiomorpholino.

The compounds of the present invention may possess one or more asymmetric center(s) and thus can be produced as mixtures (racemic and non-racemic) of stereoisomers, or as individual enantiomers or diastereomers. The individual stereoisomers may be obtained by using an optically active starting material, by resolving a racemic or non-racemic mixture of an intermediate at some appropriate stage of the synthesis, or by resolution of the compound of any of formulas I or II. It is understood that the individual stereoisomers as well as mixtures (racemic and non-racemic) of stereoisomers are encompassed by the scope of the present invention.

The compounds of the invention are useful in a free base form, in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable hydrates, pharmaceutically acceptable esters, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs, pharmaceutically acceptable metabolites, and in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable stereoisomers. These forms are all within the scope of the invention. In practice, the use of these forms amounts to use of the neutral compound.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable salt”, “hydrate”, “ester” or “solvate” refers to a salt, hydrate, ester, or solvate of the inventive compounds which possesses the desired pharmacological activity and which is neither biologically nor otherwise undesirable. Organic acids can be used to produce salts, hydrates, esters, or solvates such as acetate, adipate, alginate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, bisulfate, sulfamate, sulfate, naphthylate, butyrate, citrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, cyclopentane-propionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, glycerophosphate, hemisulfate heptanoate, hexanoate, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, lactate, maleate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, oxalate, tosylate and undecanoate. Inorganic acids can be used to produce salts, hydrates, esters, or solvates such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, and thiocyanate.

Examples of suitable base salts, hydrates, esters, or solvates include hydroxides, carbonates, and bicarbonates of ammonia, alkali metal salts such as sodium, lithium and potassium salts, alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium salts, aluminum salts, and zinc salts.

Salts, hydrates, esters, or solvates may also be formed with organic bases. Organic bases suitable for the formation of pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts, hydrates, esters, or solvates of the compounds of the present invention include those that are non-toxic and strong enough to form such salts, hydrates, esters, or solvates. For purposes of illustration, the class of such organic bases may include mono-, di-, and trialkylamines, such as methylamine, dimethylamine, triethylamine and dicyclohexylamine; mono-, di- or trihydroxyalkylamines, such as mono-, di-, and triethanolamine; amino acids, such as arginine and lysine; guanidine; N-methyl-glucosamine; N-methyl-glucamine; L-glutamine; N-methyl-piperazine; morpholine; ethylenediamine; N-benzyl-phenethylamine; (trihydroxy-methyl)aminoethane; and the like. See, for example, “Pharmaceutical Salts,” J. Pharm. Sci., 66:1, 1-19 (1977). Accordingly, basic nitrogen-containing groups can be quaternized with agents including: lower alkyl halides such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; dialkyl sulfates such as dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diamyl sulfates; long chain halides such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; and aralkyl halides such as benzyl and phenethyl bromides.

The acid addition salts, hydrates, esters, or solvates of the basic compounds may be prepared either by dissolving the free base of a PARP inhibitor of the present invention in an aqueous or an aqueous alcohol solution or other suitable solvent containing the appropriate acid or base, and isolating the salt by evaporating the solution. Alternatively, the free base of the PARP inhibitor of the present invention can be reacted with an acid, as well as reacting the PARP inhibitor having an acid group thereon with a base, such that the reactions are in an organic solvent, in which case the salt separates directly or can be obtained by concentrating the solution.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug” refers to a derivative of the inventive compounds which undergoes biotransformation prior to exhibiting its pharmacological effect(s). The prodrug is formulated with the objective(s) of improved chemical stability, improved patient acceptance and compliance, improved bioavailability, prolonged duration of action, improved organ selectivity, improved formulation (e.g., increased hydrosolubility), and/or decreased side effects (e.g., toxicity). The prodrug can be readily prepared from the inventive compounds using methods known in the art, such as those described by Burger's Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Chemistry, Fifth Ed., Vol. 1, pp. 172-178, 949-982 (1995). For example, the inventive compounds can be transformed into prodrugs by converting one or more of the hydroxy or carboxy groups into esters.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable metabolite” refers to drugs that have undergone a metabolic transformation. After entry into the body, most drugs are substrates for chemical reactions that may change their physical properties and biologic effects. These metabolic conversions, which usually affect the polarity of the compound, alter the way in which drugs are distributed in and excreted from the body. However, in some cases, metabolism of a drug is required for therapeutic effect. For example, anticancer drugs of the antimetabolite class must be converted to their active forms after they have been transported into a cancer cell. Since most drugs undergo metabolic transformation of some kind, the biochemical reactions that play a role in drug metabolism may be numerous and diverse. The main site of drug metabolism is the liver, although other tissues may also participate.

The term “neurodegenerative diseases” includes Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

The term “nervous insult” refers to any damage to nervous tissue and any disability or death resulting therefrom. The cause of nervous insult may be metabolic, toxic, neurotoxic, iatrogenic, thermal or chemical, and includes without limitation, ischemia, hypoxia, cerebrovascular accident, trauma, surgery, pressure, mass effect, hemmorrhage, radiation, vasospasm, neurodegenerative disease, infection, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myelination/demyelination process, epilepsy, cognitive disorder, glutamate abnormality and secondary effects thereof.

The term “neuroprotective” refers to the effect of reducing, arresting or ameliorating nervous insult, and protecting, resuscitating, or reviving nervous tissue that has suffered nervous insult.

The term “preventing neurodegeneration” includes the ability to prevent or delay the onset of neurodegeneration in patients diagnosed as having a neurodegenerative disease or who are at risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease. The term also encompasses preventing pr delaying the onset of further neurodegeneration in patients who are already suffering from or have symptoms of a neurodegenerative disease.

The term “treating” refers to:

-   -   (i) preventing a disease, disorder or condition from occurring         in an animal that may be predisposed to the disease, disorder         and/or condition, but has not yet been diagnosed as having it;     -   (ii) inhibiting the disease, disorder or condition, i.e.,         arresting its development;     -   (iii) relieving the disease, disorder or condition, i.e.,         causing regression of the disease, disorder and/or condition; or     -   (iv) delaying the onset or reducing the severity of the disease,         disorder or condition.

The term “neural tissue damage resulting from ischemia and reperfusion injury and neurodegenerative diseases” includes neurotoxicity, such as seen in vascular stroke and global and focal ischemia.

A feature characteristic of many of these transformations is that the metabolic products are more polar than the parent drugs, although a polar drug does sometimes yield a less polar product. Substances with high lipid/water partition coefficients, which pass easily across membranes, also diffuse back readily from tubular urine through the renal tubular cells into the plasma. Thus, such substances tend to have a low renal clearance and a long persistence in the body. If a drug is metabolized to a more polar compound, one with a lower partition coefficient, its tubular reabsorption will be greatly reduced. Moreover, the specific secretory mechanisms for anions and cations in the proximal renal tubules and in the parenchymal liver cells operate upon highly polar substances.

As a specific example, phenacetin (acetophenetidin) and acetanilide are both mild analgesic and antipyretic agents, but are each transformed within the body to a more polar and more effective metabolite, p-hydroxyacetanilid (acetaminophen), which is widely used today. When a dose of acetanilid is given to a person, the successive metabolites peak and decay in the plasma sequentially. During the first hour, acetanilid is the principal plasma component. In the second hour, as the acetanilid level falls, the metabolite acetaminophen concentration reaches a peak. Finally, after a few hours, the principal plasma component is a further metabolite that is inert and can be excreted from the body. Thus, the plasma concentrations of one or more metabolites, as well as the drug itself, can be pharmacologically important.

The reactions involved in drug metabolism are often classified into two groups, as shown in the Table II. Phase I (or functionalization) reactions generally consist of (1) oxidative and reductive reactions that alter and create new functional groups and (2) hydrolytic reactions that cleave esters and amides to release masked functional groups. These changes are usually in the direction of increased polarity.

Phase II reactions are conjugation reactions in which the drug, or often a metabolite of the drug, is coupled to an endogenous substrate, such as glucuronic acid, acetic acid, or sulfuric acid.

TABLE II Phase I Reactions (functionalization reactions): (1) Oxidation via the hepatic microsomal P450 system: Aliphatic oxidation Aromatic hydroxylation N-Dealkylation O-Dealkylation S-Dealkylation Epoxidation Oxidative deamination Sulfoxide formation Desulfuration N-Oxidation and N-hydroxylation Dehalogenation (2) Oxidation via nonmicrosomal mechanisms: Alcohol and aldehyde oxidation Purine oxidation Oxidative deamination (monoamine oxidase and diamine oxidase) (3) Reduction: Azo and nitro reduction (4) Hydrolysis: Ester and amide hydrolysis Peptide bond hydrolysis Epoxide hydration Phase II Reactions (conjugation reactions): (1) Glucuronidation (2) Acetylation (3) Mercapturic acid formation (4) Sulfate conjugation (5) N—, O—, and S-methylation (6) Trans-sulfuration

The compounds of the present invention exhibit pharmacological activity and are, therefore, useful as pharmaceuticals. In particular, the compounds exhibit central nervous and cardiac vesicular system activity.

It is understood that tautomeric forms, when possible, are included in the invention.

Many of the PARP inhibitors are known and, thus, can be synthesized by known methods from starting materials that are known, may be available commercially, or may be prepared by methods used to prepare corresponding compounds in the literature. See, for example, Suto et al., “Dihydroisoquinolinones: The Design and Synthesis of a New Series of Potent Inhibitors of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase”, Anticancer Drug Des., 6:107-17 (1991), which discloses processes for synthesizing a number of different PARP inhibitors.

Typically, the PARP inhibitors used in the composition of the invention will have an IC₅₀ for inhibiting poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in vitro of about 20 :M or less, preferably less than about 10:M, more preferably less than about 1 :M, or preferably less than about 0.1 :M, most preferably less than about 0.01 :M.

The PARP inhibitor 3,4-dihydro-5-[4(1-piperidinyl)butoxy]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone, for example, has been reported to inhibit PARP with an IC₅₀ of 40 nM by Suto et al., cited above.

The process sequence set forth herein does not represent an exact required sequence of reactions by which the compound must be made; that is, the sequence of reactions can be rearranged in several ways, by means known to those of ordinary skill in the art, to reach the target molecule.

The following examples and reaction schemes are illustrative of the presently disclosed invention.

1,2-Dihydro-7-thia-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracen-3-one and 1,2-dihydro-7-oxa-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracen-3-one derivatives of this invention are represented by previously defined formula I. As an example, these derivatives can be prepared in a conventional manner as illustrated below by Scheme 1. The tetracyclics, such as the compounds exemplified bellow, may be generically substituted as set forth in formula I.

Phenoxazine, phenothiazine and phenoxazinone derivatives of Example 1-10 can be prepared from phenoxazine, phenothiazine or anthrannilic acid as illustrated in Scheme 1. 1-Phenoxazine carboxylic acid or 1-phenothiazine carboxylic acid can be prepared by lithiation at the 1-position of phenoxazine and phenothiazine, followed by quenching with carbon dioxide. For example, 1-phenoxazine carboxylic acid was prepared as follows. To a solution of phenoxazine (5 g, 27 mmol) in anhydrous ethyl ether under N₂ was added t-butyllithium (1.7 M in pentane, 16 mL, 27 mmol) at −78° C. The mixture was stirred until color turned yellow and precipitate formed, and then warmed to room temperature over a period of 20 min. The mixture was cooled to −78° C. again. Carbon dioxide was bubbled in for 10 min. The color of the mixture turned green. The mixture was warmed to room temperature, stirred overnight, and poured into ice/water. The solution was adjusted to pH 10 by adding saturated NaHCO₃. The solution was washed with ethyl acetate. The aqueous solution was acidified to pH 2 with 1N HCl. Precipitate was filtered and washed with water to give yellow solid (64.5%). Compound 2 (X=CO) of 9-oxo-9,10-dihydro-acridine-4-carboxylic acid was prepared by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cycloaddition. A solution of N-(2-carboxyphenyl)anthrannilic acid 1 (16.2 g) and concentrated H₂SO₄ (100 mL) was heated at 100° C. for 4 h. The mixture was cooled and poured into ice-cold water. The solid was collected and washed with water. The solid was dissolved in dilute aqueous NaOH and filtered. The solution was diluted with the same volume of EtOH and then acidified with glacial acetic acid. The precipitated white product was collected and washed with 50% EtOH to give 2 (X=O, 12.3 g, 81%), mp 340-342° C. LRMS: (M+1): 240; ¹H NMR(400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) of 2: 13.75 (s, br, 1H), 11.97 (s, 1H), 8.54 (dd, 1H), 8.45 (dd, 1H), 8.25 (d, 1H), 7.80-7.74 (m, 2H), 7.39-7.32 (m, 2H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6) of 2: 176.85, 169.46, 141.52, 140.25, 137.22, 134.42, 132.72, 126.21, 122.63, 121.95, 120.93, 120.55, 118.94, 115.35. Several ways to convert carboxylic acid to carboxamide can be used by those skilled in the art. For example, a mixture of the carboxylic acid 2 (X=CO, 1.0 g) and 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (1.1 g) in DMF (10 mL) were stirred until it became homogeneous. The mixture was cooled to 10° C., and a saturated solution of NH₃ in CHCl₃ (6 mL) was added. After 1 h at room temperature, the precipitate was filtered and washed with Et₂O to give the carboxamide 3 as a yellow solid (0.69 g, 69%). The lactam ring formation from the amide 3 can be carried out by heating the amide with a single carbon source reagents, such as trimethoxy methane and triethoxymethyl acetate in cosolvent of ether/toluene or DMF. For example, a mixture of amide 3 (X=CO, 0.40 g) and diethoxymethyl acetate (50 mL) was heated at 120° C. for 6 h. Cooled and the solvents were evaporated in vacuo. The residue was washed with EtOAc to give 2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracene-3,7-dione 4 (X=CO) as a yellow solid (0.27 g, 64%), mp 300° C. dec. LRMS: (M−1): 247; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 9.87 (s, 1H), 8.70 (dd, 1H), 8.61-8.58 (m, 2H), 8.41 (dd, 1H), 8.02-7.98 (m, 1H), 7.90 (t, 1H), 7.68 (t, 1H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 177.00, 167.36, 149.57, 138.04, 137.40, 135.73, 134.55, 132.82, 127.67, 127.38, 127.10, 123.14, 121.94, 119.17, 116.54. Reduction of the N═C double bound of compound 4 using hydrogenation or hydride reagent, e.g. method in General Procedure A, provides desired tetracyclic products. Substituted derivatives of the reductive compounds 4, such as Example 1-10, can be prepared using common organic methods.

Nitration of compound Example 1 provides 3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-7-thia-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracene-9-sulfonic acid (example 5). Several nitration methods can also be used by those skilled in the art, include fuming nitric acid or sodium nitrate. Acidic solvents can be sulfuric acid, acetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid. Temperature of the reaction is general between 0° C. and 200° C.

Example 2 and 7 can be made by reaction of compound Example 1 with fuming sulfuric acid or a mixture of fuming sulfuric acid and concentrate sulfuric acid at temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.

The sulfonic acid compounds (Example 2 or 7) can be converted to sulfonyl chloride derivatives as intermediates. Common reagent used for the chloration are sulfonyl chloride, phosphorus trichloride and phosphorus oxychloride. Amidation of the intermediates using primary or secondary amines affords target compounds (Example 3 and 4). Formation of the final sulfonamides using sulfonylchloride with amino derivatives can be carried out by a variety of conditions known to those skilled in the art, including reaction with first or secondary amines using pyridine or triethyl amine as base. Typical solvents include chlorinated solvents, various ethers, and dipolar aprotic solvents like DMF. For example, the compounds Example 3 and 4 can be prepared by reaction of the acid Example 2 with sulfonyl chloride to give a substituted sulfonyl chloride intermediate, which was amidated with either 2-morpholin-4-yl-ethylamine or 2-piperidin-1-yl-ethylamine to give desired products.

General Procedure A (reduction of N═C bond of the compound 4):

A mixture of compound 4 (0.20 g) and NaBH₄ (34 mg) in 2-propanol (8 mL) was refluxed for 1 h. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was washed with water to give a desired product as a solid which could be purified by crystallization.

EXAMPLE 1 1,2-Dihydro-7-thia-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracen-3-one

Prepared from compound 4 according to General Procedure A. Yellowish solid, mp 187-192° C. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 8.37 (s, 1H), 7.69-7.67 (d, 1H, J=1.0, 8.1 Hz), 7.40-7.37 (dd, 1H, J=1.5, 7.5 Hz), 7.30-7.24 (m, 2H), 7.14-7.10 (dd, 2H, J=8.0, 7.6 Hz), 7.04-7.0 (dd, 1H, J=7.6, 7.5 Hz), 5.2 (s, 2H). Anal. (C₁₄H₁₀N₂O S.0.2 H₂O), C H N.

EXAMPLE 2 3-Oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-7-thia-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracene-9-sulfonic acid sodium salt

Prepared from the Example 1 (0.12 g) and the fuming sulfuric acid at 0° C. Precipitation was formed upon adding ice-cold water to the mixture. The solid was collected by filtration and titrated with 2 N NaOH to give the sodium salt. mp>300° C. (dec). ¹H-NMR (400 kHz, DMSO-d6): δ 5.16 (d, 2H, J=3.01), 7.11-7.15 (m, 1H, J=7.53, J=8.03), 7.19-7.26 (m, 2H), 7.35 (d, 1H, J=1.51), 7.39-7.41 (dd, 1H, J=1.50, J=7.53), 7.68-7.70 (dd, 1H, J=1.51, J=8.03), 8.40 (s, 1H). Anal. (C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₄S₂Na.2.4 H₂O)C H N S.

EXAMPLE 3 3-Oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-7-thia-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracene-9-(N2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)sulfonamide

The acid form of Example 2 in DMF was mixed with sulfonyl chloride to give a substituted sulfonyl chloride intermediate. The solvent was removed and the residue was dissolved in a mixture of solvents methylene chloride/1,4-dioxane. To the solution was added triethyl amine and 2-morpholin-4-yl-ethylamine at 0° C. The mixture was allowed to warn to room temperature and continued for 2 hr. The solvent was removed and the residue was purified by silica gel chromatography to give desired products. mp 227-228° C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 8.49(s,1H), 8.19(s, 1H), 7.72(d, 1H, J=8.03), 7.51-7.48(m, 2H, J=5.02, 8.03), 7.45-7.42(m, 2H, J=1.51, 8.03), 5.27(s, 2H), 3.94(d, 2H, J=12.55), 3.78-3.72(t, 2H, J=12.55), 3.39(m, 2H), 3.19-3.07(m, 6H). Anal. (C₂₀H₂₂N₄O₄S₂.H₂O. 1 THF)C H N S.

EXAMPLE 4 3-Oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-7-thia-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracene-9-(N-2-piperidin-1-yl-ethyl)-sulfonamide

The acid form of Example 2 in DMF was mixed with sulfonyl chloride to give a substituted sulfonyl chloride intermediate. The solvent was removed and the residue was dissolved in a mixture of solvents methylene chloride/1,4-dioxane. To the solution was added triethyl amine and 2-piperidin-1-yl-ethylamine at 0° C. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and continued for 2 hr. The solvent was removed and the residue was purified by silica gel chromatography to give desired products. mp 170-172° C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 7.85(d, 1H, J=8.03), 7.61(s, 1H), 7.44(d, 1H, J=8.04), 7.25(t, 2H, J=8.03), 7.10(t, 1H, J=7.53), 5.34(s, 2H), 2.98(m, 2H, J=5.52, 6.02), 2.35(t, 2H, J=6.02), 2.18(m, 4H), 1.43-1.33(m, 6H, J=5.02). Anal. (C₂₁H₂₄N₄O₃S₂.0.8H₂O.1C₂H₂O₄)C H N S.

EXAMPLE 5 9-Nitro-1,2-dihydro-7-thia-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracen-3-one

Prepared from compound Example 1. A mixture of the substrate in fuming nitric acid and sulfuric acid was stirred at 0° C. for 0.5 h and then poured in to ice-cold water to give a solid as a desired product. mp 205-208° C. ¹H NMR(400 MHz, DMSO-d6): 5.25-5.26 (d, 2H, J=2.51 Hz), 7.07-7.11(t, 1H, J=7.03, 7.03 Hz), 7.18-7.19(d, 1H, 3.5 Hz), 7.25-7.31(m, 2H), 8.13-8.14(d, 1H, 2.51), 8.35-8.36(d, 1H, 2.51). Anal. (C₁₄H₉N₃O₃S.0.6H₂O 0.3 acetone)C H N S.

EXAMPLE 6 1,2-Dihydro-7-oxa-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracen-3-one

Prepared from compound 4 (X=O, R=H) according to General Procedure A. Yellow solid, mp>300° C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 8.43 (s, 1H), 7.30-7.27 (dd, 1H, J=1.5, 7.5 Hz), 6.92-6.88 (m, 3H), 6.85-6.77 (m, 3H), 4.83-4.82 (d, 2H, J=3.0 Hz). Anal. (C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₂)C H N S.

EXAMPLE 7 3-Oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-7-oxa-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracene-9-sulfonic acid sodium alt

Prepared from the Example 6 and the fuming sulfuric acid at 0° C. Precipitation was formed upon adding ice-cold water to the mixture. The solid was collected by filtration and titrated with 2 N NaOH to give the sodium salt. mp 300 (dec)° C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 8.29 (s, 1H), 7.3-7.28 (dd, 1H, J=1.5, 7.5 Hz), 7.07-7.04 (dd, 1H, J=1.5, 7.5 Hz), 6.92-6.91 (dd, 1H, J=2.0 Hz), 6.91-6.88 (dd, 1H, J=1.5, 7.5 Hz), 6.81-6.77 (dd, 1H, J=7.0, 8.0 Hz) 6.75-6.73 (d, 1H, J=8.0 Hz), 4.81 (s, 2H). Anal. (C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₅S Na.0.6H₂O)C H N S.

EXAMPLE 8 1,2-Dihydro-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracene-3,7-dione

Prepared from compound 4 (X=O, R=H) according to General Procedure A (0.16 g, 80%). Yellow solid, mp 250-255° C. MS: (M−1): 249; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.94 (s, br, 1H), 8.46 (d, 1H), 8.39-8.32 (m, 2H), 7.90-7.86 (m, 2H), 7.45-7.40 (m, 2H), 5.71 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6) 176.39, 161.78, 140.87, 139.92, 134.94, 133.49, 131.41, 127.25, 122.81, 122.13, 121.77, 121.22, 118.39, 115.78, 56.46; Anal. (C₁₅H₁₀N₂O₂. 0.36 H₂O). C H N.

EXAMPLE 9 N-(5,9-Dihydro-5-oxo-4[H]cyclopenta[lmn]phenathridin-1-yl)-4-fluorbenzamide

A mixture of amide 3 (X=CO, 0.10 g), benzaldehyde (8 mL) and triethylamine (0.1 mL) was refluxed for 15 h. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was washed with H₂O and Et₂O to give a yellow product (0.11 g, 78%), mp 288-292° C. MS: (M+1): 327; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.76 (d, 1H), 8.53 (dd, 1H), 8.40 (dd, 1H), 8.33 (dd, 1H), 7.99 (d, 1H), 7.81 (td, 1H), 7.52-7.39 (m, 3H), 7.26-7.23 (m, 3H), 7.09-7.05 (m, 2H); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 176.30, 161.21, 140.30, 140.27, 140.17, 135.12, 133.66, 131.90, 129.32, 129.02, 127.45, 125.76, 123.16, 122.27, 122.17, 121.37, 118.44, 116.60, 67.01; Anal. (C₂₁H₁₄N₂O₂)C H N.

EXAMPLE 10 1-tert-Butyl-1,2-dihydro-2,11b-diaza-benzo[de]anthracene-3,7-dione

A mixture of amide 3 (X=CO, 0.10 g), trimethylacetaldehyde (8 mL) and triethylamine (0.1 mL) was refluxed for 15 h. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was washed with H₂O and Et₂O to give a yellow product (0.12 g, 92%), np 300° C. dec. MS: (M+1): 307; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 9.34 (d, 1H), 8.43 (dd, 1H), 8.33 (dd, 1H), 8.28-8.22 (m, 2H), 7.81 (m, 1H), 7.43 (t, 1H), 7.37 (t, 1H), 6.25 (d, 1H), 0.68 (s, 9H); Anal. (C₁₉H₁₈N₂O₂.0.2 H₂O)C H N.

The following reaction methods are illustrative of compounds of formula II of the presently disclosed invention.

Triflate (2). Benzyl amine (44.0 g, 168 mmol) 1 was dissolved in diethyl ether (300 mL). This solution was added to sodium hydride (7.4 g, 193 mmol 60%) in diethyl ether (750 mL) dropwise over 1 h. After string at room temperature for 2 h, the trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (32.5 mL, 193 mmol) was added dropwise and the reaction was stirred for 16 h. The reaction was quenched by pouring it into conc. NH₄Cl (1 L) and partitioned with Et2O (3×500 mL). The combined organics were dried with Na₂SO₄, concentrated in vacuo and used in the next step without further purification. The crude product was isolated in 95% yield (62.7 g). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.33 (m 5H), 4.30 (q, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.18 (s, 2H), 2.64 (m, 2H), 2.58 (m, 2H), 1.32 (t, 3H).

Ethyl Ester, (R=H, 3a). Triflate 2 (25.0 g, 50.8 mmol), K₂CO₃ (63.6 g, 127 mmol), and phenyl boronic acid (8.5 g, 69.9 mmol) were suspended in THF (600 mL). The solution was degassed several times and refilled with nitrogen. Palladium tetrakis triphenylphosphine (1.5 g) was added to this solution and the reaction was heated at 75° C. for 4 h. The reaction mixture was then concentrated in vacuo and partitioned between EtOAc/H₂O (300 mL each). The water was extracted once more with EtOAc (150 mL) and the combined organic layers were dried and concentrated. The crude residue was columned on silica gel (Hexanes→25% EtOAc/Hexanes) and the desired product was isolated (R_(f)=0.5, 25% EtOAc/Hexanes). The dry yield was 18.2 g (89%). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.34 (m, 9H), 7.14 (d, 1H), 3.88 (q, 2H), 3.65 (s, 2H), 3.26 (s, 2H), 2.69 (m, 2H), 2.57 (m, 2H); MS (ES+=322.23).

Ethyl Ester, (R=F, 3b). The dry yield was 97%. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.34 (m, 5H), 7.10 (m, 1H), 7.09 (m, 1H), 6.98 (m, 2H), 3.91 (q, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.21 (t, 2H), 2.68 (t, 2H), 2.56 (m, 2H), 0.90 (t, 3H).

Carboxylic acid, (R=H, 4a). The ester 3a (8.6 g, 26.8 mmol) was suspended in 1.0 M LiOH (100 mL), MeOH (50 mL) and THF (50 mL). This mixture was refluxed for 16 h or until all of the ethyl ester was hydrolyzed to the acid (TLC EtOAc, R_(f)=0.1). The reaction mixture was concentrated down to 50 mL and filtered to remove any particulates. The filtrate was acidified with conc. HCl. The carboxylic acid precipicated out of solution and was filtered and dried extensively under high vac to yield 6.5 g (83%) of the desired material 4a. More material could be recovered from the filtrate upon concentration in vacuo. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.70 (bs, 1H), 7.66 (m, 2H), 7.43 (m, 3H), 7.32 (m, 3H), 7.17 (m, 2H), 4.40 (bs, 2H), 3.85 (bs, 2H), 3.17 (bs, 2H), 2.72 (bs, 2H); MS (ES+=294.25).

Carboxylic acid, (R=F, 4b). Yield=80%. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.39 (bs, 1H), 7.34 (m, 4H), 7.15 (m, 5H), 3.61 (s, 2H), 3.14 (m, 2H), 2.59 (t, 2H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.41 (m, 2H).

Carbamate, (R=H, 5a). Carboxylic acid 4a (9.0 g, 30.7 mmol) was suspended in toluene (125 mL) and EtOH (20 mL). Triethylamine (8.5 mL, 61.4 mmol) was added to the acid followed by diphenylphosphoryl azide (DPPA, 13.2 mL, 61.4 mmol). The solution was heated to 85° C. and stirred for 2 h. The mixture was then concentrated in vacuo and then partitioned between water (25 mL) and EtOAc (50 mL). The EtOAc layer was then washed sequentially with 10% NaHCO₃ (25 mL), H₂O (25 mL) and brine (25 mL). The organic layer was dried and concentrated and columned on silica gel (Hexanes→25% EtOAc/Hexanes) to yield 7.9 g (78%) of the carbamate 5a. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 7.40-7.17 (m, 10H), 6.07 (bs, 1H), 4.05 (q, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.21 (s, 2H), 2.83 (m, 2H), 2.73 (m, 2H), 1.18 (t, 3H); MS (ES+)=337.32.

Methyl Carbamate, (R=F, 5b). The reaction was carried out as above except for the addition of methanol rather than ethanol to the mixture. Yield=50%. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.35 (m, 6H), 7.16 (m, 1H), 7.04 (m, 2H), 5.99 (bs, 1H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.61 (s, 3H), 3.18 (t, 2H), 2.80 (m, 2H), 2.72 (m, 2H).

Tetrahydroazaphenanthridone, R=H, 6a). Carbamate 5a (200 mg, 0.60 mmol) was dissolved polyphosphoric acid (1 mL). The reaction was heated to 140° C. for 1 h. The mixture was cooled and carefully poured into 20 g of ice. The aqueous mixture was basified with solid K₂CO₃ and extracted with EtOAc (3×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried and concentrated in vacuo and the resulting solid was triturated with boiling diethyl ether and filtered to yield 120 mg (68%). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) 10.22 (bs, 1H), 8.40 (d, 1H), 7.63 (t, 1H), 7.42-7.15 (m, 7H), 3.80 (s, 2H), 3.66 (s, 2H), 2.80 (m, 2H), 2.76 (m, 2H).

Tetrahydroazaphenanthridone, (R=F, 6b). Yield=33%. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) 11.36 (bs, 1H), 7.85 (d, 1H), 7.57 (t, 1H), 7.49 (d, 1H), 7.38 (m, 5H), 3.74 (s, 2H), 3.56 (m, 2H), 2.70 (m, 2H), 2.60 (m, 2H). MS (ES+=309.25).

Triflate (8). Benzyl amine (12.0 g, 48.5 mmol) 7 was dissolved in diethyl ether (300 mL). Sodium hydride (1.75 g, 72.8 mmol) was added portionwise over 30 min. After stirring at room temperature for 2 h, the trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (15.0 g, 53.0 mmol) was added dropwise and the reaction was stirred for 16 h. The reaction was quenched with conc. NH₄Cl (200 mL) and partitioned with EtOAc (2×100 mL). The combined organics were dried with Na₂SO₄, concentrated in vacuo and columned on silica gel (Hexanes→20% EtOAc/Hexanes). The purified product was isolated in 75% yield (13.8 g). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.33 (m, 5H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.66 (s, 2H), 3.40 (s, 2H), 2.70 (m, 2H), 2.52 (m, 2H).

Methyl Ester (9). Triflate 8 (13.8 g, 36.1 mmol), K₂CO₃ (10.1 g, 72.6 mmol), and phenyl boronic acid (4.8 g, 41.0 mmol) were suspended in THF (250 mL). The solution was degassed several times and refilled with nitrogen. Palladium tetrakis triphenylphosphine (500 mg, 0.48 mmol) was added to this solution and the reaction was heated at 75° C. overnight. The reaction was then filtered through a plug of celite and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was columned on silica gel (Hexanes→25% EtOAc/Hexanes) and the desired product was isolated (R_(f)=0.5, 15% EtOAc/Hexanes). The dry yield was 9.9 g (87%). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.61 (d, 1H), 7.44-7.29 (m, 9H), 3.70 (s, 2H), 3.43 (s, 3H), 3.39 (s, 2H), 2.67 (m, 2H), 2.54 (m, 2H); MS (ES+=308.23).

Carboxylic acid (10). The ester 9 (6.4 g, 21.8 mmol) was suspended in 1.0 M LiOH (100 mL), MeOH (50 mL) and THF (50 mL). This mixture was refluxed for 16 h or until all of the ethyl ester was hydrolyzed to the acid (TLC EtOAc, R_(f)=0.1). The organic solvents were removed in vacuo and the resulting aqueous phase was cooled and neutralized with conc HCl. The carboxylic acid precipicated out of solution and was filtered and dried extensively under high vac to yield 6.5 g (83%) of the desired material 10. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.70 (bs, 1H), 7.66 (m, 2H), 7.43 (m, 3H), 7.32 (m, 3H), 7.17 (m, 2H), 4.40 (bs, 2H), 3.73 (bs, 2H), 3.33 (bs, 2H), 2.64 (bs, 2H); MS (ES+=294.25).

Tetrahydroazaphenanthridone, (11). Carboxylic acid (2.0 g, 6.8 mmol) was suspended in toluene (25 mL). Et₃N and DPPA were added, and the reaction was stirred at RT for 2 h, at which point the SM had fully dissolved. The solution was filtered through a plug of silica gel and washed with toluene. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and placed under high vacuum for an hour. The residue was then dissolved in TCE (20 mL) and heated to 85° C. for 10 minutes to ensure all of the azide and converted to the isocyanate. AlCl₃ was then added, and the reaction was stirred at 85° C. for 1 h. The reaction was allowed to stir overnight at RT. The reaction was quenched with 3 M HCl (3 mL), and the resulting solid was filtered and washed with 1 M HCl (4×30 mL). The solid was combined with MeOH and NaHCO₃ and heated to reflux. The mixture was filtered hot, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to yield the desired compound as a pale yellow solid, 500 mg (25%). ¹H NMR (MeOD) δ 8.30 (d, 1 H), 7.78-7.68 (m, 2H), 7.49 (t, 1H), 7.43-7.29 (m, 6H), 3.76 (s, 2H), 3.46 (s, 2H), 3.32-3.29 (m, 2H), 2.89-2.84 (m, 4H)

Amine 12a, R=H. The benzyl amine 6a (650 mg, 2.24 mmol) was dissolved in MeOH (30 mL) and TFA (1 mL) and Pd/C (200 mg, 10%) was added. The mixture was hydrogenated at 50 psi overnight and the Pd/C was filtered off. The resulting filtrate was concentrated and dried in vacuo to yield 700 mg (99% yield) of the TFA salt. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.47 (bs, 1H), 9.39 (bs, 1H), 8.23 (d, 1H), 7.78 (t, 1H), 7.54 (m, 2H), 4.28 (m, 2H), 3.43 (m, 2H), 2.82 (m, 2H).

Amine 12b, R=F. MS (ES+=219.41).

Chloride 13, (R=H, n=1). The amine TFA salt 12a (960 mg, 3.05 mmol) was suspended in DMA (5 mL) along with DIEA (1.3 mL, 7.6 mmol) and the chloroacetyl chloride (464 mg, 3.66 mmol) was added dropwise over a 5 minute period. The mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The DMA was removed in vacuo and the residual solid was triturated with 1 M HCl and filtered. The solid (725 mg, 82%) was characterized as the chloride. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 10.82 (bs, 1H), 8.45 (d, 1H), 7.75 (t, 1H), 7.54 (m, 2H), 4.75 (m, 2H), 4.30 (s, 2H), 3.18 (m, 4H). MS(ES+)=277.15.

Chloride 14a, R=H, n=2). The same procedure was followed as stated above. Crude Yield=145 mg, 84%. MS (ES+)=291.21.

Chloride 14b, (R=F, n=2). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.42 (bs, 1H), 7.78 (d, 1H), 7.63 (m, 2H), 4.67 (m, 2H), 3.81 (m, 4H), 3.00 (m, 2H), 2.67 (m, 2H); MS (ES−)=307.18.

Chloride 15, R=H, n=3). The same procedure outlined for 13 was followed. Crude yield=151 mg, 81%. MS (ES+)=305.24.

General procedure for the synthesis of amines 16a-m, 17a-n, 18a-u. The requisite chloride (10 mg) was dissolved/suspended in acetonitrile (1 mL) followed by addition of K₂CO₃ (3 eq) and the requisite amine (1.5 eq). The mixture was heated to 60° C. overnight to complete the amination. The crude reaction mixture was cooled and quenched in a mixture of EtOAc/1M HCl (1:1, 4 mL). The acidic layer was partitioned and basified with solid K₂CO₃ and reextracted with EtOAc (3×2 mL). The combined washes from the basic extraction were dried and concentrated to yield the crude amines 16a-m, 17a-n and 18a-u.

NR₂=N,N,N-trimethylpropylenediamine (16a). MS (ES+)=357.37.

NR₂=N-methylpiperazine (16b). MS (ES+)=341.35.

NR₂=2-hydroxypropylamine (16c). MS (ES+)=316.32.

NR₂=N,N,N-trimethylethylenediamine (16d). MS (ES+)=343.39.

NR₂=1-piperidinemethanol (16e). MS (ES+)=356.38.

NR₂=2-hydroxyethylpiperazine (16f). MS (ES+)=371.39.

NR₂=dimethylamine (16g). MS (ES+)=286.35.

NR₂=tetrahydroisoquinoline (16h). MS (ES+)=374.37.

NR₂=(S)-2,3-dihydroxypropylamine (16i). MS (ES+)=332.37.

NR₂=piperidine (16j). MS (ES+)=325.41.

NR₂=4-carboxyethylpiperidine (16k). MS (ES+)=397.48.

NR₂=4-oxopiperidine (16l). MS (ES+)=340.39.

NR₂=1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (16m). MS (ES+)=324.38.

NR₂=N,N,N-trimethylpropylenediamine (17a). MS (ES+)=371.40.

NR₂=N-methylpiperazine (17b). MS (ES+)=355.37.

NR₂=2-hydroxypropylamine (17c). MS (ES+)=330.37.

NR₂=sarcosine t-butylester (17d). MS (ES+)=400.39.

NR₂=N,N,N-trimethylethylenediamine (17e). MS (ES+)=357.41.

NR₂=1-piperidinemethanol (17f). MS (ES+)=370.39.

NR₂=tetrahydroisoquinoline (17g). MS (ES+)=388.39.

NR₂=(S)-2,3-dihydroxypropylamine (17h). MS (ES+)=346.38.

NR₂=piperidine (17i). MS (ES+)=340.42.

NR₂=4-carboxyethylpiperidine (17j). MS (ES+)=411.51.

NR₂=4-oxopiperidine (17k). MS (ES+)=354.39.

NR₂=1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (17l). MS (ES+)=338.41.

NR₂=2-fluorophenethylamine (17m). MS (ES+)=394.40.

NR₂=pyrrolidine (17n). MS (ES+)=312.37.

NR₂=N,N,N-trimethylpropylenediamine (18a). MS (ES+)=385.35.

NR₂=N-methylpiperazine (18b). MS (ES+)=369.33.

NR₂=2-hydroxypropylamine (18c). MS (ES+)=343.43.

NR₂=sarcosine t-butylester (18d). MS (ES+)=414.33.

NR₂=N,N,N-trimethylethylenediamine (18e). MS (ES+)=371.35.

NR₂=1-piperidinemethanol (18f). MS (ES+)=383.49.

NR₂=2-hydroxyethylpiperazine (18g). MS (ES+)=399.33.

NR₂=dimethylamine (18h). MS (ES+)=314.34.

NR₂=tetrahydroisoquinoline (18i). MS (ES+)=400.45.

NR₂=piperidine (18j). MS (ES+)=354.37.

NR₂=4-carboxyethylpiperidine (18k). MS (ES+)=424.50.

NR₂=4-oxopiperidine (18l). MS (ES+)=368.36.

NR₂=1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (18m). MS (ES+)=350.20.

NR₂=2-fluorophenethylamine (18n). MS (ES−)=406.39.

NR₂=(S)-methylaminotetrahydrofuran (18o). MS (ES−)=368.39.

NR₂=(R)-methylaminotetrahydrofuran (18p). MS (ES−)=368.31.

NR₂=(R)-2-amino-3-propanol (18q). MS (ES+)=344.42.

NR₂=1-amino-2-phenylethanol (18r). MS (ES−)=404.40

NR₂=1-aminomethylcyclohexanol (18s). MS (ES−)=396.31.

NR₂=(R)-1-amino-2-propanol (18t). MS (ES−)=342.16.

NR₂=(S)-1-amino-2-propanol (18u). MS (ES−)=342.18.

General procedure for the reduction of amides 17g, 17i and 17n. The amide 17n (400 mg, 1.28 mmol) was suspended in THF (5 mL) while LAH (100 mg, 2.5 mmol) was added portionwise over a 15 min period. The reaction was heated to 70° C. and stirred overnight. The reaction was then quenched with EtOAc (5 mL) and washed with water (2 mL). The emulsion that formed was filtered and the filtrate was partitioned and extracted several times with EtOAc (3×3 mL). The combined organics were dried and concentrated and the crude solid was recrystallized from EtOAc/Et₂O. The recrystallized amine was suspended in Et₂O and 2 equiv of HCl in Et₂O were added. The resulting salt was filtered off and characterized as the pyrrolidine HCl 19a (210 mg, 55%). NR₂=pyrrolidine HCl (19a). ¹H NMR (D₂O) δ 11.32 (bs, 1H), 8.21 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.61 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 4.61 (s, 1.61H), 4.52 (s, 0.4H), 4.23 (s, 1.4H), 4.08 (s, 0.6H), 3.78-3.66 (m, 2H), 3.50-3.31 (m, 2H), 3.07 (m, 2H), 2.79-2.50 (m, 2H), 1.83 (m, 4H).

NR₂=piperidine HCl (19b). ¹H NMR (D₂O) δ 8.17 (m, 1H), 7.78 (m, 1H) 7.56 (m, 1H), 7.47 (m, 1H), 4.51 (s, 2H), 3.84 (m, 2H) 3.35-3.69 (m, 6H) 3.04 (m, 4H), 1.48-1.92 (m, 6H).

NR₂=tetrahydroisoquinoline HCl (19c). ¹H NMR (D₂O) δ 8.13 (m, 1H), 7.75 (m, 1H), 7.44-7.53 (m, 3H), 7.17-7.26 (m, 3H), 4.33-4.57 (m, 4H), 2.90-3.68 (m, 14H).

General Procedure for amino acid coupling. Amine 12a (30 mg, 0.15 mmol), boc-valine (40 mg, 0.18 mmol), DMAP (3 mg) and EDC (35 mg, 0.18 mmol) were mixed together in dichloromethane (2 mL) and N-methyl pyrrolidinone (0.5 mL). This mixture was agitated on a shaker overnight. The reactions were then partitioned between water (2 mL) and DCM (2 mL). One more extraction with 1 N HCl (2 mL) was done followed by an extraction of the organic layer with 10% NaHCO₃ (2 mL). The organic layer was dried with MgSO₄ and TFA (0.5 mL) was added and the reactions were shaken for 2 hours. Removal of solvent in vacuo led to the crude TFA salts 21a-m.

R=glycine, (21a). MS (ES+)=258.30.

R=L-alanine, (21b). MS (ES+)=272.35.

R=L-valine, (21c). MS (ES−)=298.24.

R=L-proline, (21d). MS (ES+)=298.37.

R=L-pipecolic acid, (21e). MS (ES+)=312.42.

R=L-glutamate, (21f). MS (ES−)=328.31.

R=L-methionine sulfoxide, (21g). MS (ES+)=348.41.

R=L-histidine, (21h). MS (ES+)=338.40.

R=L-phenylalanine (21i). MS (ES+)=348.45.

R=L-tyrosine, (21j). MS (ES−)=362.76.

R=D-tyrosine, (21k). MS (ES−)=363.13.

R=β-alanine (21l). MS (ES+)=272.38.

R=C(O)CH₂CH₂NH₃COOH (HCl) (21m). ¹H NMR (D₂O) δ 7.52 (d, J=9 Hz, 0.4H), 7.48 (d, J=9 Hz, 0.6H), 7.17 (m, 1H), 6.97 (m, 1H), 6.85 (d, J=9 Hz, 0.4H), 6.73 (d, J=9 Hz, 0.6H), 3.93 (s, 0.8H), 3.83 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 3.81 (s, 1.2H), 3.35 (m, 0.8H), 3.28 (1.2H), 2.43 (m, 2H), 2.05 (m, 2H), 1.97 (m, 2H).

R=CH₃ (21n). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 8.31 (d, J=8 Hz, 11H), 7.78 (t, J=8 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (dd, J=8 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (t, J=8 Hz, 1H), 4.72 (bs, 2H), 3.85 (m, 2H), 2.69-80 (m, 2H), 2.23-2.26 (s, 3H).

R=C(O)NHCH₂CH₂-piperidine (21o). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.25 (bs, 1H), 8.21 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.62 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.48 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 6.71 (bt, 1H), 4.42 (s, 2H), 3.61 (t, 1H), 3.17 (q, 2H), 2.57 (t, 2H), 234 (m, 4H), 1.45 (m, 6H).

R=m-chlorophenyl (21p). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.51 (bs, 1H), 8.22 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.70 (m, 2H), 7.51 (m, 5H), 4.92 (s, 2H), 4.76 (s, 2H), 4.54 (m, 2H), 3.60 (m, 2H), 3.07 (m, 2H).

Sulfonamide 22a (R=m-carboxyphenyl). Amine 12a (500 mg, 2.5 mmol) and triethylamine (375 uL, 2.7 mmol) were dissolved in DMA (3 mL) and cooled to 0° C. The sulfonyl chloride carboxylic acid (550 mg, 2.5 mmol) was added portionwise over 5 min and the reaction was stirred overnight at room temperature. Then, the DMA was removed in vacuo and the solid residue was triturated with 1 N HCl and the solid was filtered off to yield 690 mg (72%) of 22a. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 13.50 (bs, 1H), 11.24 (bs, 1H), 8.19 (m, 3H), 7.77 (t, J=6 Hz, 1H), 7.72 (m, 1H), 7.51 (m, 1H), 4.25 (s, 2H), 3.43 (m, 2H), 2.63 (m, 2H).

R=p-carboxyphenyl (22b). MS (ES−)=383.41.

R=ethylene (22c). Under the same conditions as stated for 22a, the amine 12a and chloroethylsulfonyl chloride were mixed together yielding the elimination product 22b. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.34 (bs, 1H), 8.22 (d, J=6 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (m, 1H), 7.53 (m, 2H), 6.92 (dd, J=9 Hz, 1H), 6.20 (dd, J=9 Hz, 2H), 4.29 (s, 2H), 3.46 (t, J=6 Hz, 2H), 3.07 (t, J=6 Hz, 2H), 2.71 (m, 2H).

General EDC coupling to form sulfonamides 23a-d. This coupling was carried out analogously to the synthesis of compounds 21 a-m.

R=m-C(O)-N-methylpiperazine, (23a). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.26 (bs, 1H), 8.19 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (m, 1H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.72-7.63 (m, 4H), 7.49 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 4.25 (s, 1.6H), 4.18 (s, 0.4H), 3.61 (m, 2H), 3.42 (m, 4H), 3.17 (m, 2H), 2.63 (m, 2H), 2.36 (m, 2H), (m, 2H), 2.16 (s, 2H), 2.10 (s, 1H).

R=m-C(O)-4-pyrrolylpiperidine, (23b). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.25 (bs, 1H), 8.17 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (m, 1H), 7.85 (s, 1H), 7.73-7.55 (m, 4H), 7.49 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 4.18 (m, 4H), 3.67 (m, 2H), 2.96 (m, 5H), 2.65 (m, 2H), 2.25 (m, 2H), 1.68 (m, 4H), 1.45 (m, 4H).

R=p-C(O)—N-methylpiperazine, (23c). MS (ES+)=467.43.

R=p-C(O)-4-pyrrolylpiperidine, (23d). MS (ES+)=521.65.

Diamine 24a. The ethylene sulfonamide 22c (250 mg, 0.86 mmol) was added to a solution of pyrrolidinyl piperidine (400 mg, 2.58 mmol) in DMA (5 mL) and heated overnight at 65° C. The DMA was removed in vacuo and the residue was triturated with Et₂O and the solid was filtered off. The solid was suspended in Et₂O and HCl (2 equiv) was added. The resulting solid was filtered off and dried to yield 133 mg (30%) of the desired HCl salt. ¹H NMR (D₂O) δ 7.98 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.62 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.28 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 4.29 (s, 2H), 3.75-3.56 (m, 9H), 3.10 (m, 4H), 2.60 (m, 2H), 2.42 (m, 2H), 2.10 (m, 2H), 1.94 (m, 6H).

Amine 12a (500 mg, 2.5 mmol) was mixed together with chloromethylbenzoic acid (425 mg, 2.5 mmol) and heated to 70° C. overnight. The resulting solid was filtered off and characterized as the HCl salt. R=meta-carboxyphenyl (6c). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 13.07 (bs, 1H), 11.51 (bs, 1H), 8.23 (m, 2H), 7.78 (m. 2H), 7.66 (m, 2H), 7.53 (m, 2H), 5.46 (s, 2H), 4.63 (s, 2H), 4.42 (m, 2H), 3.42 (m, 2H).

R=4-methylmorpholinylphenyl (6d). ¹H NMR (D₂O) δ 8.02-8.25 (m, 1H), 7.48-7.71 (m, 7H), 4.36 (m, 6H), 3.75-4.13 (m, 10H), 3.56 (s, 2H).

R=t-butylcarboxy (6e). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 10.67 (bs, 1H), 8.42 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (t, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (m, 2H), 3.84 (s, 2H), 3.44 (s, 2H), 3.00 (m, 2H), 2.94 (m, 2H) 1.51 (s, 9H).

Amine 11. The benzyl amine 11 (650 mg, 2.24 mmol) was dissolved in MeOH (30 mL) and TFA (1 mL) and Pd/C (200 mg, 10%) was added. The mixture was hydrogenated at 50 psi overnight and the Pd/C was filtered off. The resulting filtrate was concentrated and dried in vacuo to yield 700 mg (99% yield) of the TFA salt 25. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.10 (s, 1 H), 8.18 (d, J=9 Hz, 1 H), 7.74 (t, J=3 Hz, 1 H), 7.61 (d, J=3 Hz, 1 H), 7.46 (t, J=3 Hz, 1 H), 7.37-7.25 (m, 5 H), 3.68 (s, 2H), 2.77-2.69 (m, 4 H).

General procedure for the synthesis of amines 28a-p and 29a-k. The same steps were followed as shown in scheme 3-1 for the synthesis of amines 16a-m and 17 a-n.

NR₂=dimethylamino (28a). MS (ES+)=286.35.

NR₂=piperidine (28b). MS (ES+)=326.40.

NR₂=2-aminomethylpiperidine, (28c). MS (ES+)=356.42.

NR₂=tetrahydropyridine (28d). MS (ES+)=324.39.

NR₂=N-methylaniline (28e). MS (ES+)=348.42.

NR₂=N,N,N′-trimethylethylenediamine (28f). MS (ES+)=343.44.

NR₂=N-aminoethylmorpholine (28g). MS (ES+)=371.45.

NR₂=N,N-dimethylaminoethyl-N-benzylamine (28h). MS (ES+)=419.49.

NR₂=N,N′-diethylpropylenediamine (28i). MS (ES+)=371.41.

NR₂=N,N-diethylpropylenediamine (28j). MS (ES+)=371.39.

NR₂=N,N-diethylethylenediamine (28k). MS (ES+)=357.47.

NR₂=N-aminoethylpiperidine (281). MS (ES+)=369.45.

NR₂=o-aminoethylpyridine (28m). MS (ES+)=363.42.

NR₂=N-methyl-2-aminoethylpyrrolidine (28n). MS (ES+)=369.42.

NR₂=N-benzylpiperidine (28o). MS (ES+)=416.52.

NR₂=m-aminoethylpiperidine (28p). MS (ES+)=349.41.

NR₂=(S)-1-amino-2-propanol (29a). MS (ES+)=330.41.

NR₂=(R)-1-amino-2-propanol (29b). MS (ES+)=330.42.

NR₂=(S)-2-aminomethyltetrahydrofuran (29c). MS (ES+)=356.43.

NR₂=(R)-2-aminomethyltetrahydrofuran (29d). MS (ES+)=356.43.

NR₂=1-amino-2-phenylethanol (29e). MS (ES+)=392.50.

NR₂=N-benzylpiperazine (29f). MS (ES+)=431.43.

NR₂=N-aminoethylpyrrolidine (29g). MS (ES+)=369.41.

NR₂=N,N,N′-trimethylpropylenediamine (29h). MS (ES+)=371.43.

NR₂=N,N-diethylpropylenediamine (29i). MS (ES+)=385.34.

NR₂=homopiperazine (29j). MS (ES+)=355.41.

NR₂=4-pyrrolyl-piperidine (29k). MS (ES+)=409.51.

R=L-valine, (30a). MS (ES−)=298.24.

R=L-proline, (30b). MS (ES+)=298.37.

R=glycine, (30c). MS (ES+)=258.30.

R=L-histidine, (30d). MS (ES+)=338.40.

R=L-alanine, (30e). MS (ES+)=272.35.

R=L-tyrosine, (30f). MS (ES−)=362.76.

R=D-tyrosine, (30g). MS (ES−)=363.13.

R=L-phenylalanine (30h). MS (ES+)=348.45.

R=β-alanine (30i). MS (ES+)=272.38.

R=L-pipecolic acid, (30j). MS (ES+)=312.42.

Sulfonamide carboxylate (31). Sulfonamide 31 was made in an analogous manner to the sulfonamide 22a. MS (ES−)=383.41.

General procedure for synthesis of amides 32 a-b. Amides 32a-b were synthesized in an analogous manner to amides 23a-d.

NR₂=N-aminomethylpyrrolidine (32a). MS (ES+)=481.51.

NR₂=4-pyrrolylpiperidine (32b). MS (ES+)=521.42.

General procedure for the synthesis of amines 34a-f. The amines 34a-f were synthesized in an analogous manner to 24a.

NR₂=4-pyrrolylpiperidine (34a). MS (ES+)=445.42.

NR₂=morpholine (34b). MS (ES+)=378.46.

NR₂=N-cyclopentylpiperazine (34c). MS (ES+)=445.32.

NR₂=N-methyltetrahydrofuranylpiperazine (34d). MS (ES+)=461.52.

NR₂=piperidine (34e). MS (ES+)=376.49.

NR₂ dimethylamino (34f). MS (ES+) = 336.42. Com- Structure pound # IC₅₀(μM)

 6a 0.335

 6b 0.182

11 0.220

12a 0.035

14a 0.185

21n 0.058

21o 0.105

21p 0.799

Structure Compound # IC₅₀(μM)

16a 0.426

16b 1.67

16c 0.421

16d 0.985

16e 0.844

16f 13.1

16g 0.644

16h 1.58

16i 0.668

16j 0.069

16k 0.134

16l 0.296

16m 0.214

Structure Compound # IC₅₀(μM)

17a 0.282

17b 1.8

17c 2.18

17d 0.180

17e 0.385

17f 0.435

17g 0.244

17h 0.250

17i 0.071

17j 0.558

17k 0.111

17l 0.089

17m 0.164

17n 0.069

Structure Compound # IC₅₀(μM)

18a 0.185

18b 0.241

18c 0.087

18d 0.495

18e 0.492

18f 0.672

18g 0.479

18h 0.152

18i 1.16

18j 0.457

18k 0.482

18l 0.251

18m 0.410

18n 1.32

18o 0.322

18p 0.167

18q 0.251

18r 0.357

18s 0.156

18t 0.128

18u 0.066

R Group Compound IC₅₀ H 21a  90 nM CH₃ 21b 107 nM

21c 698 nM

21d 268 nM

21e 129 nM

21f 159 nM

21g 172 nM

21h 329 nM

21i 1.23 uM 

21j 382 nM

21k 3.71 uM 

21l  62 nM

Com- Structure pound # IC₅₀(μM)

22a 0.036

22b 1.5

22c 0.292

23a 0.441

23b 0.304

23c 1.5

23d 1.5

24a 0.080

Other manners, variations or sequences of preparing the compounds of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The compounds of the present invention may be useful in the free base form, in the form of base salts where possible, and in the form of addition salts, as well as in the free acid form. All these forms are within the scope of this invention. In practice, use of the salt form amounts to use of the base form. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts within the scope of this invention are those derived from mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid; and organic acids such as ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and the like, giving the hydrochloride, sulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, and the like respectively, or those derived from bases such as suitable organic and inorganic bases. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts with compounds of the present invention include organic bases which are nontoxic and strong enough to form such salts. These organic bases and the use thereof are readily understood by those skilled in the art. Merely for the purpose of illustration, such organic bases may include mono-, di-, and trialkylamines, such as methylamine, diethylamine and triethylamine; mono-, di-, or trihydroxyalkylamines such as mono-, di-, and triethanolamine; amino acids such as arginine, and lysine; guanidine; N-methylglucosamine; N-methylglucamine; L-glutamine; N-methylpiperazine; morpholine; ethylenedianane; N-benzylphenethylamine; tris(hydroxymethyl)antinoethane; and the like.

The acid addition salts of the basic compounds may he prepared by dissolving the free base of the compounds of the present invention in aqueous or aqueous alcohol solution or other suitable solvents containing the appropriate acid or base and isolating the salt by evaporating the solution, or by reacting the free base of a compound of the present invention with an acid as well as reacting a compound of the present invention having an acid group thereon with a base such that the reactions are in an organic solvent, in which case the salt separates directly or can be obtained by concentration of the solution.

The compounds of this invention contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms. Therefore, the invention includes the individual stereoisomers and mixtures thereof as well as the racemic compounds. The individual isomers may be prepared or isolated by methods known in the art.

The compounds of the invention exhibit pharmacological activity and are, therefore, useful as pharmaceuticals. In particular the compounds exhibit central nervous and cardiac vesicular system activity.

Other variations and modifications of this invention using the synthetic pathways described above will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Methods of Using the Compounds of the Invention

The compounds of the present invention can treat or prevent or delay the onset of or reduce the severity of tissue damage resulting from cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis; can ameliorate neural or cardiovascular tissue damage, including that following focal ischemia, myocardial infarction, and reperfusion injury; can treat various diseases and conditions caused or exacerbated by PARP activity; can extend or increase the lifespan or proliferative capacity of cells; can alter the gene expression of senescent cells; and can radiosensitize cells. Generally, inhibition of PARP activity spares the cells from energy loss, preventing, in the case of neural cells, irreversible depolarization of the neurons, and thus, provides neuroprotection. While not being bound to any one particular theory, it is thought that PARP activation may play a common role in still other excitotoxic mechanisms, perhaps as yet undiscovered, in addition to the production of free radicals and NO.

For the foregoing reasons, the present invention further relates to a method of administering a therapeutically effective amount of the above-identified compounds in an amount sufficient to inhibit PARP activity, to treat or prevent tissue damage resulting from cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis, to effect a neuronal activity not mediated by NMDA toxicity, to effect a neuronal activity mediated by NMDA toxicity, to treat neural tissue damage resulting from ischemia and reperfusion injury, neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases; to prevent or treat vascular stroke; to treat or prevent cardiovascular disorders; to treat other conditions and/or disorders such as age-related muscular degeneration, AIDS and other immune senescence diseases, inflammation, gout, arthritis, atherosclerosis, cachexia, cancer, degenerative diseases of skeletal muscle involving replicative senescence, diabetes, head trauma, immune senescence, inflammation, gout, inflammatory bowel disorders (such as colitis and Crohn's disease), muscular dystrophy, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic and/or acute pain (such as neuropathic pain), renal failure, retinal ischemia, septic shock (such as endotoxic shock), and skin aging; to extend the lifespan and proliferative capacity of cells; to alter gene expression of senescent cells; or to radiosensitize hypoxic tumor cells. The present invention also relates to treating diseases and conditions in an animal which comprises administering to said animal a therapeutically effective amount of the above-identified compounds.

In particular, the present invention relates to a method of treating, preventing or inhibiting a neurological disorder in an animal, which comprises administering to said animal a therapeutically effective amount of the above-identified compounds. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the neurological disorder is selected from the group consisting of peripheral neuropathy caused by physical injury or disease state, traumatic brain injury, physical damage to the spinal cord, stroke associated with brain damage, focal ischemia, global ischemia, reperfusion injury, demyelinating disease and neurological disorder relating to neurodegeneration. Another preferred embodiment is when the reperfusion injury is a vascular stroke. Yet another preferred embodiment is when the peripheral neuropathy is caused by Guillain-Barre syndrome. Still another preferred embodiment is when the demyelinating disease and neurological disorder relates to neurodegeneration. Another preferred embodiment is when the reperfusion injury is a vascular stroke. Still another preferred embodiment is when the demyelinating disease is multiple sclerosis. Another preferred embodiment is when the neurological disorder relating to neurodegeneration is selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Yet another preferred embodiment is a method of treating, preventing or inhibiting a cardiovascular disease in an animal, such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular ischemia, and cardiovascular tissue damage related to PARP activation, by administering to said animal an effective amount of the compounds of the present invention.

The present invention also contemplates the use of at least one of the compounds I or II for inhibiting PARP activity, for treating, preventing or inhibiting tissue damage resulting from cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis, for treating, preventing or inhibiting a neurological disorder in an animal.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the neurological disorder is selected from the group consisting of peripheral neuropathy caused by physical injury or disease state, traumatic brain injury, physical damage to the spinal cord, stroke associated with brain damage, focal ischemia, global ischemia, reperfusion injury, demyelinating disease and neurological disorder relating to neurodegeneration.

Another preferred embodiment is when the reperfusion injury is a vascular stroke. Yet another preferred embodiment is when the peripheral neuropathy is caused by Guillain-Barre syndrome. Still another preferred embodiment is when the demyelinating disease is multiple sclerosis. Another preferred embodiment is when the neurological disorder relating to neurodegeneration is selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The present invention also contemplates the use of at least one of compounds I or II in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of any of the diseases and disorders in an animal described herein.

In a particular embodiment, the disease or disorder is a neurological disorder.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the neurological disorder is selected from the group consisting of peripheral neuropathy caused by physical injury or disease state, traumatic brain injury, physical damage to the spinal cord, stroke associated with brain damage, focal ischemia, global ischemia, reperfusion injury, demyelinating disease and neurological disorder relating to neurodegeneration. Another preferred embodiment is when the reperfusion injury is a vascular stroke. Yet another preferred embodiment is when the peripheral neuropathy is caused by Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Still another preferred embodiment is when the demyelinating disease is multiple sclerosis. Another preferred embodiment is when the neurological disorder relating to neurodegeneration is selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The term “preventing neurodegeneration” includes the ability to prevent neurodegeneration in patients newly diagnosed as having a neurodegenerative disease, or at risk of developing a new degenerative disease and for preventing further neurodegeneration in patients who are already suffering from or have symptoms of a neurodegenerative disease.

As used herein, the term “neural tissue damage resulting from ischemia and reperfusion injury” includes neurotoxicity, such as seen in vascular stroke and global and focal ischemia. As used herein, the term “neurodegenerative diseases,” includes Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

The term “ischemia” relates to localized tissue anemia due to obstruction of the inflow of arterial blood. Global ischemia occurs under conditions in which blood flow to the entire brain ceases for a period of time, such as may result from cardiac arrest. Focal ischemia occurs under conditions in which a portion of the brain is deprived of its normal blood supply, such as may result from thromboembolytic occlusion of a cerebral vessel, traumatic head injury, edema, and brain tumors.

The term “cardiovascular disease” relates to myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, vascular or myocardial ischemia, and related conditions as would be known by those of skill in the art which involve dysfunction of or tissue damage to the heart or vasculature, and especially, but not limited to, tissue damage related to PARP activation.

The term “radiosensitizer”, as used herein, is defined as a molecule, preferably a low molecular weight molecule, administered to animals in therapeutically effective amounts to increase the sensitivity of the cells to be radiosensitized to electromagnetic radiation and/or to promote the treatment of diseases which are treatable with electromagnetic radiation. Diseases which are treatable with electromagnetic radiation include neoplastic diseases, benign and malignant tumors, and cancerous cells. Electromagnetic radiation treatment of other diseases not listed herein are also contemplated by the present invention. The terms “electromagnetic radiation” and “radiation” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, radiation having the wavelength of 10⁻²⁰ to 10⁰ meters. Preferred embodiments of the present invention employ the electromagnetic radiation of: gamma-radiation (10⁻²⁰ to 10⁻¹³ m) x-ray radiation (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁹ m), ultraviolet light (10 nm to 400 nm), visible light (400 nm to 700 nm), infrared radiation (700 nm to 1.0 mm), or microwave radiation (1 mm to 30 cm).

Compositions and Methods for Effecting Neuronal Activity

Preferably, the compounds of the invention inhibit PARP activity and, thus, are believed to be useful for treating neural tissue damage, particularly damage resulting from cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury or neurodegenerative diseases in animals. The term “nervous tissue” refers to the various components that make up the nervous system including, without limitation, neurons, neural support cells, glia, Schwann cells, vasculature contained within and supplying these structures, the central nervous system, the brain, the brain stem, the spinal cord, the junction of the central nervous system with the peripheral nervous system the peripheral nervous system, and allied structures.

Further, according to the invention, an effective therapeutic amount of the compounds and compositions described above are administered to animals to effect a neuronal activity, particularly one that is not mediated by NMDA neurotoxicity. Such neuronal activity may consist of stimulation of damaged neurons, promotion of neuronal regeneration, prevention of neurodegeneration and treatment of a neurological disorder. Accordingly, the present invention further relates to a method of effecting a neuronal activity in an animal, comprising administering an effective amount of at least one of the compounds of formulas I or II to said animal.

Examples of neurological disorders that are treatable by the method of using the present invention include, without limitation, trigeminal neuralgia; glossopharyngeal neuralgia; Bell's Palsy; myasthenia gravis; muscular dystrophy; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; progressive muscular atrophy; progressive bulbar inherited muscular atrophy, herniated, ruptured or prolapsed invertebrate disk syndromes; cervical spondylosis; plexus disorders; thoracic outlet destruction syndromes; peripheral neuropathies such as those caused by lead, dapsone, ticks, porphyria, or Guillain-Barre syndrome; Alzheimer's disease; Huntington's Disease and Parkinson's disease.

The method of the present invention is particularly useful for treating a neurological disorder selected from the group consisting of: peripheral neuropathy caused by physical injury or disease state; head trauma, such as traumatic brain injury; physical damage to the spinal cord; stroke associated with brain damage, such as vascular stroke associated with hypoxia and brain damage, focal cerebral ischemia, global cerebral ischemia, and cerebral reperfusion injury; demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis; and neurological disorders related to neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Treating Other PARP-Related Disorders

The compounds, compositions and methods of the present invention are particularly useful for treating or preventing tissue damage resulting from cell death or damage due to necrosis or apoptosis.

The compounds, compositions and methods of the invention can also be used to treat a cardiovascular disorder in an animal, by administering an effective amount of the compound of formula to the animal. As used herein, the term “cardiovascular disorders” refers to those disorders that can either cause ischemia or are caused by reperfusion of the heart. Examples include, but are not limited to, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular tissue damage caused by cardiac arrest, cardiovascular tissue damage caused by cardiac bypass, cardiogenic shock, and related conditions that would be known by those of ordinary skill in the art or which involve dysfunction of or tissue damage to the heart or vasculature, especially, but not limited to, tissue damage related to PARP activation.

For example, the methods of the invention are believed to be useful for treating cardiac tissue damage, particularly damage resulting from cardiac ischemia or caused by reperfusion injury in animals. The methods of the invention are particularly useful for treating cardiovascular disorders selected from the group consisting of: coronary artery disease, such as atherosclerosis; angina pectoris; myocardial infarction; myocardial ischemia and cardiac arrest; cardiac bypass; and cardiogenic shock. The methods of the invention are particularly helpful in treating the acute forms of the above cardiovascular disorders.

Further, the methods of the invention can be used to treat tissue damage resulting from cell damage or death due to necrosis or apoptosis, neural tissue damage resulting from ischemia and reperfusion injury, neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases; to prevent or treat vascular stroke; to treat or prevent cardiovascular disorders; to treat other conditions and/or disorders such as age-related muscular degeneration, AIDS and other immune senescence diseases, inflammation, gout, arthritis, atherosclerosis, cachexia, cancer, degenerative diseases of skeletal muscle involving replicative senescence, diabetes, head trauma, immune senescence, inflammatory bowel disorders (such as colitis and Crohn's disease), muscular dystrophy, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic and/or acute pain (such as neuropathic pain), renal failure, retinal ischemia, septic shock (such as endotoxic shock), and skin aging; to extend the lifespan and proliferative capacity of cells; to alter gene expression of senescent cells; or to radiosensitize tumor cells

Further still, the methods of the invention can be used to treat cancer and to radiosensitize tumor cells. The term “cancer” is interpreted broadly. The compounds of the present invention can be “anti-cancer agents”, which term also encompasses “anti-tumor cell growth agents” and “anti-neoplastic agents”. For example, the methods of the invention are useful for treating cancers and radiosensitizing tumor cells in cancers such as ACTH-producing tumors, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, cancer of the adrenal cortex, bladder cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, colorectal cancer, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, gallbladder cancer, hairy cell leukemia, head & neck cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer (small and/or non-small cell), malignant peritoneal effusion, malignant pleural effusion, melanoma, mesothelioma, multiple myeloma, neuroblastoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, ovary (germ cell) cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, penile cancer, retinoblastoma, skin cancer, soft-tissue sarcoma, squamous cell carcinomas, stomach cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, trophoblastic neoplasms, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, cancer of the vulva and Wilm's tumor.

The term “radiosensitizer”, as used herein, is defined as a molecule, preferably a low molecular weight molecule, administered to animals in therapeutically effective amounts to increase the sensitivity of the cells to be radiosensitized to electromagnetic radiation and/or to promote the treatment of diseases which are treatable with electromagnetic radiation. Diseases which are treatable with electromagnetic radiation include neoplastic diseases, benign and malignant tumors, and cancerous cells. Electromagnetic radiation treatment of other diseases not listed herein are also contemplated by the present invention. The terms “electromagnetic radiation” and “radiation” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, radiation having the wavelength of 10⁻²⁰ to 10⁰ meters. Preferred embodiments of the present invention employ the electromagnetic radiation of: gamma-radiation (10⁻²⁰ to 10⁻¹³ m) x-ray radiation (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁹ m), ultraviolet light (10 nm to 400 nm), visible light (400 nm to 700 nm), infrared radiation (700 nm to 1.0 mm), and microwave radiation (1 mm to 30 cm).

Radiosensitizers are known to increase the sensitivity of cancerous cells to the toxic effects of electromagnetic radiation. Several mechanisms for the mode of action of radiosensitizers have been suggested in the literature including: hypoxic cell radiosensitizers (e.g., 2-nitroimidazole compounds, and benzotriazine dioxide compounds) promote the reoxygenation of hypoxic tissue and/or catalyze the generation of damaging oxygen radicals; non-hypoxic cell radiosensitizers (e.g., halogenated pyrimidines) can be analogs of DNA bases and preferentially incorporate into the DNA of cancer cells and thereby promote the radiation-induced breaking of DNA molecules and/or prevent the normal DNA repair mechanisms; and various other potential mechanisms of action have been hypothesized for radiosensitizers in the treatment of disease.

Many cancer treatment protocols currently employ radiosensitizers activated by the electromagnetic radiation of x-rays. Examples of x-ray activated radiosensitizers include, but are not limited to, the following: metronidazole, misonidazole, desmethylmisonidazole, pimonidazole, etanidazole, nimorazole, mitomycin C, RSU 1069, SR 4233, EO9, RB 6145, nicotinamide, 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR), 5-iododeoxyuridine (IUdR), bromodeoxycytidine, fluorodeoxyuridine (FudR), hydroxyurea, cisplatin, and therapeutically effective analogs and derivatives of the same.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancers employs visible light as the radiation activator of the sensitizing agent. Examples of photodynamic radiosensitizers include the following, but are not limited to: hematoporphyrin derivatives, Photofrin, benzoporphyrin derivatives, NPe6, tin etioporphyrin SnET2, pheoborbide-a, bacteriochlorophyll-a, naphthalocyanines, phthalocyanines, zinc phthalocyanine, and therapeutically effective analogs and derivatives of the same.

Radiosensitizers may be administered in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of one or more other compounds, including but not limited to: compounds which promote the incorporation of radiosensitizers to the target cells; compounds which control the flow of therapeutics, nutrients, and/or oxygen to the target cells; chemotherapeutic agents which act on the tumor with or without additional radiation; or other therapeutically effective compounds for treating cancer or other disease. Examples of additional therapeutic agents that may be used in conjunction with radiosensitizers include, but are not limited to: 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, 5′-amino-5′deoxythymidine, oxygen, carbogen, red cell transfusions, perfluorocarbons (e.g., Fluosol-DA), 2,3-DPG, BW12C, calcium channel blockers, pentoxyfylline, antiangiogenesis compounds, hydralazine, and LBSO. Examples of chemotherapeutic agents that may be used in conjunction with radiosensitizers include, but are not limited to: adriamycin, camptothecin, carboplatin, cisplatin, daunorubicin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, interferon (alpha, beta, gamma), interleukin 2, irinotecan, paclitaxel, topotecan, and therapeutically effective analogs and derivatives of the same.

Pharmaceutical Compositions of the Invention

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising (i) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of the compounds of formula I or II and (ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

The above discussion relating to the preferred embodiments' utility and administration of the compounds of the present invention also applies to the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” as used herein refers to any carrier, diluent, excipient, suspending agent, lubricating agent, adjuvant, vehicle, delivery system, emulsifier, disintegrant, absorbent, preservative, surfactant, colorant, flavorant, or sweetener.

For these purposes, the composition of the invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, adsorption, absorption, topically, rectally, nasally, bucally, vaginally, intraventricularly, via an implanted reservoir in dosage formulations containing conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, or by any other convenient dosage form The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intrasternal, and intracranial injection or infusion techniques.

When administered parenterally, the composition will normally be in a unit dosage, sterile injectable form (solution, suspension or emulsion) which is preferably isotonic with the blood of the recipient with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Examples of such sterile injectable forms are sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions. These suspensions may be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable forms may also be sterile injectable solutions or suspensions in non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluents or solvents, for example, as solutions in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, saline, Ringer's solution, dextrose solution, isotonic sodium chloride solution, and Hanks' solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as solvents or suspending mediums. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or di-glycerides, corn, cottonseed, peanut, and sesame oil. Fatty acids such as ethyl oleate, isopropyl myristate, and oleic acid and its glyceride derivatives, including olive oil and castor oil, especially in their polyoxyethylated versions, are useful in the preparation of injectables. These oil solutions or suspensions may also contain long-chain alcohol diluents or dispersants.

Sterile saline is a preferred carrier, and the compounds are often sufficiently water soluble to be made up as a solution for all foreseeable needs. The carrier may contain minor amounts of additives, such as substances that enhance solubility, isotonicity, and chemical stability, e.g., anti-oxidants, buffers and preservatives.

Formulations suitable for nasal or buccal administration (such as self-propelling powder dispensing formulations) may comprise about 0.1% to about 5% w/w, for example 1% w/w of active ingredient. The formulations for human medical use of the present invention comprise an active ingredient in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefore and optionally other therapeutic ingredient(s).

When administered orally, the composition will usually be formulated into unit dosage forms such as tablets, cachets, powder, granules, beads, chewable lozenges, capsules, liquids, aqueous suspensions or solutions, or similar dosage forms, using conventional equipment and techniques known in the art. Such formulations typically include a solid, semisolid, or liquid carrier. Exemplary carriers include lactose, dextrose, sucrose, sorbitol, mannitol, starches, gum acacia, calcium phosphate, mineral oil, cocoa butter, oil of theobroma, alginates, tragacanth, gelatin, syrup, methyl cellulose, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, methyl hydroxybenzoate, propyl hydroxybenzoate, talc, magnesium stearate, and the like.

The composition of the invention is preferably administered as a capsule or tablet containing a single or divided dose of the inhibitor. Preferably, the composition is administered as a sterile solution, suspension, or emulsion, in a single or divided dose. Tablets may contain carriers such as lactose and corn starch, and/or lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate. Capsules may contain diluents including lactose and dried corn starch.

A tablet may be made by compressing or molding the active ingredient optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing, in a suitable machine, the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as a powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, surface active, or dispersing agent Molded tablets may be made by molding in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered active ingredient and a suitable carrier moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

The compounds of this invention may also be administered rectally in the form of suppositories. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at room temperature, but liquid at rectal temperature, and, therefore, will melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter, beeswax, and polyethylene glycols.

Compositions and methods of the invention also may utilize controlled release technology. Thus, for example, the inventive compounds may be incorporated into a hydrophobic polymer matrix for controlled release over a period of days. The composition of the invention may then be molded into a solid implant, or externally applied patch, suitable for providing efficacious concentrations of the PARP inhibitors over a prolonged period of time without the need for frequent re-dosing. Such controlled release films are well known to the art. Particularly preferred are transdermal delivery systems. Other examples of polymers commonly employed for this purpose that may be used in the present invention include nondegradable ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer an degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers which may be used externally or internally. Certain hydrogels such as poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) or poly(vinylalcohol) also may be useful, but for shorter release cycles than the other polymer release systems, such as those mentioned above.

In a preferred embodiment, the carrier is a solid biodegradable polymer or mixture of biodegradable polymers with appropriate time release characteristics and release kinetics. The composition of the invention may then be molded into a solid implant suitable for providing efficacious concentrations of the compounds of the invention over a prolonged period of time without the need for frequent re-dosing. The composition of the present invention can be incorporated into the biodegradable polymer or polymer mixture in any suitable manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art and may form a homogeneous matrix with the biodegradable polymer, or may be encapsulated in some way within the polymer, or may be molded into a solid implant.

In one embodiment, the biodegradable polymer or polymer mixture is used to form a soft “depot” containing the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention that can be administered as a flowable liquid, for example, by injection, but which remains sufficiently viscous to maintain the pharmaceutical composition within the localized area around the injection site. The degradation time of the depot so formed can be varied from several days to a few years, depending upon the polymer selected and its molecular weight. By using a polymer composition in injectable form, even the need to make an incision may be eliminated. In any event, a flexible or flowable delivery “depot” will adjust to the shape of the space it occupies with the body with a minimum of trauma to surrounding tissues. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is used in amounts that are therapeutically effective, and may depend upon the desired release profile, the concentration of the pharmaceutical composition required for the sensitizing effect, and the length of time that the pharmaceutical composition has to be released for treatment.

The PARP inhibitors are used in the composition in amounts that are therapeutically effective. The compositions may be sterilized and/or contain adjuvants, such as preserving, stabilizing, welling, or emulsifying agents, solution promoters, salts for regulating the osmotic pressure, and/or buffers. In addition, they may also contain other therapeutically valuable substances. The compositions are prepared according to conventional mixing, granulating, or coating methods, and contain about 0.1 to 75% by weight, preferably about 1 to 50% by weight, of the active ingredient.

To be effective therapeutically as central nervous system targets, the compounds of the present invention should readily penetrate the blood-brain barrier when peripherally administered. Compounds which cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier can be effectively administered by an intraventricular route or other appropriate delivery system suitable for administration to the brain.

Doses of the compounds preferably include pharmaceutical dosage units comprising an efficacious quantity of active compound. By an efficacious quantity is meant a quantity sufficient to inhibit PARP and derive its beneficial effects through administration of one or more of the pharmaceutical dosage units. Preferably, the dose is sufficient to prevent or reduce the effects of vascular stroke or other neurodegenerative diseases.

For medical use, the amount required of the active ingredient to achieve a therapeutic effect will vary with the particular compound, the route of administration, the mammal under treatment, and the particular disorder or disease being treated. A suitable systematic dose of a compound of the present invention or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof for a mammal suffering from, or likely to suffer from, any of condition as described hereinbefore is in the range of about 0.1 mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg of the active ingredient compound, the most preferred dosage being about 1 to about 10 mg/kg.

It is understood, however, that a specific dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, and the severity of the particular disease being treated and form of administration.

It is understood that the ordinarily skilled physician or veterinarian will readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the compound for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of the condition for which treatment is administered. In so proceeding, the physician or veterinarian could employ an intravenous bolus followed by an intravenous infusion and repeated administrations, parenterally or orally, as considered appropriate. While it is possible for an active ingredient to be administered alone, it is preferable to present it as a formulation.

When preparing dosage form incorporating the compositions of the invention, the compounds may also be blended with conventional excipients such as binders, including gelatin, pregelatinized starch, and the like; lubricants, such as hydrogenated vegetable oil, stearic acid, and the like; diluents, such as lactose, mannose, and sucrose; disintegrants, such as carboxymethylcellulose and sodium starch glycolate; suspending agents, such as povidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and the like; absorbants, such as silicon dioxide; preservatives, such as methylparaben, propylparaben, and sodium benzoate; surfactants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, polysorbate 80, and the like; colorants such as F.D.& C. dyes and lakes; flavorants; and sweeteners.

The present invention relates to the use of at least one of the compounds I or II in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of any disease or disorder in an animal described herein.

PARP Assays

IC₅₀

A convenient method to determine IC₅₀ of a PARP inhibitor compound is a PARP assay using purified recombinant human PARP from Trevigan (Gaithersburg, Md.), as follows: The PARP enzyme assay is set up on ice in a volume of 100 microliters consisting of 100 nM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 1 mM MgCl₂, 28 mM KCl, 28 nM NaCl, 0.1 mg/ml of DNase I activated herring sperm DNA (Sigma, Mo.), 3.0 micromolar [3H]nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (470 mci/mmole), 7 micrograms/ml PARP enzyme, and various concentrations of the compounds to be tested. The reaction is initiated by incubating the mixture at 25° C. After 15 minutes of incubation, the reaction is terminated by adding 500 microliters of ice cold 20% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid. The precipitate formed is transferred onto a glass fiber filter (Packard Unifilter-GF/B) and washed three times with ethanol. After the filter is dried, the radioactivity is determined by scintillation counting. The compounds of this invention were found to have potent enzymatic activity in the range of a few nM to 20 μM in IC₅₀ in this inhibition assay.

Using the PARP assay described above, approximate IC₅₀ (μM) values were obtained as shown above.

Focal Cerebral Ischemia

The following focal cerebral ischemia assay is useful for determining the PARP inhibiting effects of the compounds of the present invention. The following examples demonstrate that compounds related to those of the present invention are effective in inhibiting PARP activity.

Focal cerebral ischemia is produced by cauterization of the right distal MCA (middle cerebral artery) with bilateral temporary common carotid artery occlusion in male Long-Evans rats for 90 minutes. All procedures performed on the animals are approved by the University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Pennsylvania. A total of 42 rats (weights: 230-340 g) obtained from Charles River were used in this study. The animals fasted overnight with free access to water prior to the surgical procedure.

Two hours prior to MCA occlusion, varying amounts (control, n=14; 5 mg/kg, n=7; 10 mg/kg, n=7; 20 mg/kg, n=7; and 40 mg/kg, n=7) of the compound, 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)-butoxy]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone (“DPQ”) were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) using a sonicator. A volume of 1.28 ml/kg of the resulting solution was injected intraperitoneally into fourteen rats.

The rats were then anesthetized with halothane (4% for induction and 0.8%-1.2% for the surgical procedure) in a mixture of 70% nitrous oxide and 30% oxygen. The body temperature was monitored by a rectal probe and maintained at 37.5±0.5° C. with a heating blanket regulated by a homeothermiic blanket control unit (Harvard Apparatus Limited, Kent, U.K.). A catheter (PE-50) was placed into the tail artery, and arterial pressure was continuously monitored and recorded on a Grass polygraph recorder (Model 7D, Grass Instruments, Quincy, Mass.). Samples for blood gas analysis (arterial pH, PaO₂ and PaCO₂) were also taken from the tail artery catheter and measured with a blood gas analyzer (ABL 30, Radiometer, Copenhagen, Denmark). Arterial blood samples were obtained 30 minutes after MCA occlusion.

The head of the animal was positioned in a stereotaxic frame, and a right parietal incision between the right lateral canthus and the external auditory meatus was made. Using a dental drill constantly cooled with saline, a 3 mm burr hole was prepared over the cortex supplied by the right MCA, 4 mm lateral to the sagittal suture and 5 mm caudal to the coronal suture. The dura mater and a thin inner bone layer were kept, care being taken to position the probe over a tissue area devoid of large blood vessels. The flow probe (tip diameter of 1 mm, fiber separation of 0.25 mm) was lowered to the bottom of the cranial burr hole using a micromanipulator. The probe was held stationary by a probe holder secured to the skull with dental cement. The microvascular blood flow in the right parietal cortex was continuously monitored with a laser Doppler flowmeter (FloLab, Moor, Devon, U.K., and Periflux 4001, Perimed, Stockholm, Sweden).

Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by cauterization of the distal portion of the right MCA with bilateral temporary common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion by the procedure of Chen et al., “A Model of Focal Ischemic Stroke in the Rat: Reproducible Extensive Cortical Infarction”, Stroke 17:738-43 (1986) and/or Liu et al., “Polyethylene Glycol-conjugated Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Reduce Ischemic Brain Injury”, Am. J. Physiol. 256:H589-93 (1989), both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Specifically, bilateral CCA's were isolated, and loops made from polyethylene (PE-10) catheter were carefully passed around the CCA's for later remote occlusion. The incision made previously for placement of the laser doppler probe was extended to allow observation of the rostral end of the zygomatic arch at the fusion point using a dental drill, and the dura mater overlying the MCA was cut. The MCA distal to its crossing with the inferior cerebral vein was lifted by a fine stainless steel hook attached to a micromanipulator and, following bilateral CCA occlusion, the MCA was cauterized with an electrocoagulator. The burr hole was covered with a small piece of Gelform, and the wound was sutured to maintain the brain temperature within the normal or near-normal range.

After 90 minutes of occlusion, the carotid loops were released, the tail arterial catheter was removed, and all of the wounds were sutured. Gentamicin sulfate (10 mg/ml) was topically applied to the wounds to prevent infection. The anesthetic was discontinued, and the animal was returned to his cage after awakening. Water and food were allowed ad libitum

Two hours after MCA occlusion, the animals were given the same doses of the PARP inhibitor as in the pre-treatment. Twenty-four hours after MCA occlusion, the rats were sacrificed with an intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium (150 mg/kg). The brain was carefully removed from the skull and cooled in ice-cold artificial CSF for five minutes. The cooled brain was then sectioned in the coronal plane at 2 mm intervals using a rodent brain matrix (RBM4000C, ASI Instruments, Warren, Mich.). The brain slices were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline containing 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) at 37° C. for ten minutes. Color photographs were taken of the posterior surface of the stained slices and were used to determine the damaged area at each cross-sectional level using a computer-based image analyzer (NIH Image 1.59). To avoid artifacts due to edema, the damaged area was calculated by subtracting the area of the normal tissue in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the stroke from the area of the hemisphere contralateral to the stroke, by the method of Swanson et al., “A Semiautomated Method for Measuring Brain Infarct Volume”, J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metabol. 10:290-93 (1990), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The total volume of infarction was calculated by summation of the damaged volume of the brain slices.

The cauterization of the distal portion of the right MCA with bilateral temporary CCA occlusion consistently produced a well-recognized cortical infarct in the right MCA territory of each test animal. There was an apparent uniformity in the distribution of the damaged area as measured by TTC staining in each group, as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, the distribution of the cross-sectional infarct area at representative levels along the rostrocaudal axis was measured from the interaural line in non-treated animals and in animals treated with 10 mg/kg of 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)-butoxy]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone. The area of damage was expressed as mean±standard deviation. Significant differences between the 10 mg-treated group and the control group were indicated (*p<0.02, **p<0.01, **p<0.001). The 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg curves fell approximately halfway between the control and the 10 mg/kg curves, whereas the 40 mg/kg curve was close to the control. The 5, 20 and 40 mg/kg curves were omitted for clarity.

PARP inhibition led to a significant decrease in the damaged volume in the 5 mg/kg-treated group (106.7±23.2 mm³, p<0.001), the 10 mg/kg-treated group (76.4±16.8 mm³, p<0.001), and the 20 mg/kg-treated group (110.2±42.0 mm³, p<0.01), compared to the control group (165.2±34.0 mm³). The data are expressed as mean±standard deviation. The significance of differences between groups was determined using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Student's t-test for individual comparisons.

There was no significant difference between the control and the 40 mg/kg-treated group (135.6±44.8 mm³). However, there were significant differences between the 5 mg/kg-treated group and the 10 mg/kg-treated group (p<0.02), and between the 10 mg/kg-treated group and the 40 mg/kg-treated group (p<0.01), as shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, the effect of intraperitoneal administration of 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)-butoxy]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone on the infarct volume was depicted graphically. The volumes of infarct were expressed as mean±standard deviation. Significant differences between the treated groups and the control group were indicated (*p<0.01, **p<0.001). It is not clear why a high dose (40 mg/kg) of the PARP inhibitor, 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)-butoxy]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone, was less neuro-protective. The U-shaped dose-response curve may suggest dual effects of the compound.

However, overall, the in vivo administration of the inhibitor led to a substantial reduction in infarct volume in the focal cerebral ischemia model in the rat. This result indicated that the activation of PARP plays an important role in the pathogenesis of brain damage in cerebral ischemia.

The values of arterial blood gases (PaO₂, PaCO₂ and pH) were within the physiological range in the control and treated groups with no significant differences in these parameters among the five groups, as shown below in Table IV. A “steady state” MABP was taken following completion of the surgical preparation, just prior to occlusion; an “ischemia” MABP was taken as the average MABP during occlusion.

TABLE IV MABP (mm Hg) PaO₂ PaCO₂ Steady Ischemia (mm Hg) (mm Hg) pH State Control group 125 ± 21  38.6 ± 7.33 ± 79 ± 14 91 ± 13** (n = 4) 4.6 0.05 5 mg/kg-treated 126 ± 20  38.0 ± 7.36 ± 78 ± 5  91 ± 12** group (n = 7) 2.8 0.02 10 mg/kg-treated 125 ± 16  39.3 ± 7.34 ± 80 ± 9  90 ± 14*  group (n = 7) 5.2 0.03 20 mg/kg-treated 122 ± 14  41.3 ± 7.35 ± 79 ± 10 91 ± 12** group (n = 7) 2.8 0.23 40 mg/kg-treated 137 ± 17  39.5 ± 7.33 ± 78 ± 4  88 ± 12*  group (n = 7) 4.7 0.24 *= Significantly different from the steady state value, p < 0.05. **= Significantly different from the steady state value, p < 0.01. There were no significant differences in any physiological parameter, including mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), prior to MCA and CCA occlusion among the five groups. Although MABP was significantly elevated following occlusion in all five groups, there were no significant differences in MABP during the occlusion period among the groups.

Since the blood flow values obtained from the laser doppler were in arbitrary units, only percent changes from the baseline (prior to occlusion) were reported. Right MCA and bilateral CCA occlusion produced a significant decrease in relative blood flow in the right parietal cortex to 20.8±7.7% of the baseline in the control group (n=5), 18.7±7.4% in the 5 mg/kg-treated group (n=7), 21.4±7.7% in the 10 mg/kg-treated group (n=7) and 19.3±11.2% in the 40 mg/kg-treated group (n=7). There were no significant differences in the blood flow response to occlusion among the four groups. In addition, blood flow showed no significant changes throughout the entire occlusion period in any group.

Following release of the carotid occlusions, a good recovery of blood flow (sometimes hyperemia) was observed in the right MCA territory of all animals. Reperfusion of the ischemic tissue resulted in the formation of NO and peroxynitrite, in addition to oxygen-derived free radicals. All of these radicals have been shown to cause DNA strand breaks and to activate PARP.

This example provided evidence that the related compounds of the present invention are effective in inhibiting PARP activity.

Exemplified compounds of the present invention may be tested for their ability to reduce focal cerebral ischemia in the following simplified procedure.

Rats are allowed free access to water and rat chow (Wayne, Chicago, Ill.) until surgery. Housing and anesthesia concur with guidelines established by the institutional Animal Studies Committee, and are in accordance with the PHS Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, USDA Regulations, and the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia guidelines.

The animals are anesthetized with isofluorane (induction, 3%; maintenance, 1.25% in a mixture of 30% O₂ and 70% NO₂ through a face mask. The rectal temperature is maintained at 37° C. with a homeothermic blanket (Harvard Apparatus, South Natick, Mass.). First, an iv catheter is inserted into the left femoral vein and the line run up through the nape of the neck for connection to a tethered swivel (Instech Laboratories, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) and remote infusion pump (Stoelting Inc., Wood Dale, Ill.). In some cases, the right femoral artery is cannulated for monitoring arterial blood pressure and heart rate and for obtaining blood samples for arterial blood gas.

The right middle cerebral artery (MCA) is then exposed by making vertical skin incision midway between the right eye and ear and overlying skull is removed with a dental drill (Chen et al., 1986). After incision of the dura, the artery is coagulated at the level of the inferior cerebral vein with a bipolar cautery unit (Valleylab NS2000, Boulder, Colo.), and cut to prevent spontaneous reperfusion (Takahashi et al., 1997). Both common carotid arteries (CCAs) that had been previously isolated and freed of soft tissues and nerves are then ligated using non-traumatic aneurysm clips. After the wounds are closed with surgical clips, the animals are allowed to recover from anesthesia and returned to their cage which is warmed to 27° C. with a heated water underpad and humidified warm tent.

The PARP inhibitor to be tested is first administered 30 min after MCAO as an iv bolus, 10 mg/kg infused over 5 min, followed by a 12 hr continuous infusion of 2 mg/kg/br (0.3 ml/hr). Ninety minutes after the MCAO, the animals are removed from the infusion tether, briefly reanesthetized with isofluorane, and the carotid clips are removed. The animal is returned to its warm cage and reconnected to the iv infusion pump for the duration of the experiment.

At 24 hrs after permanent MCAO, animals are sedated with ketamine and the heads removed by guillotine. Brains are removed, cooled in ice-cold saline, and sliced into 2 mm coronal sections using a rat brain matrice (Harvard Bioscience, South Natick, Mass.). The brain slices are incubated in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) containing 2% TTC at 37° C. for 10 min. and then stored in 10% neutral-buffered formalin. Cross-sectional area of the TTC-unstained region for each brain slice is determined using an image analyzer (MetaMorph, Universal Imaging Corp., West Chester, Pa.). The total volume of infarction in the right hemisphere is calculated by summation of the direct (TTC-negative) and indirect measures of the infarct areas in the component brain slices. The infarcted volumes in vehicle and drug-treated groups (n=8) are tested for significant statistical difference using an unpaired Student-t test.

Various doses of the compounds of the invention may be tested in this model. The compounds are administered in either a single dose or a series of multiple doses, i.p. or i.v., at different times, both before or after the onset of ischemia. Compounds of the invention are expected to provide protection from ischemia in the range of about 0 to 80%.

Heart Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

The experiments of the heart ischemia/reperfusion injury model is performed using female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300g which are anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital at dose of 65 mg/kg intraperitoneally. The rectal temperature is maintained at 37° C. by using a homeothermic blanket system (Harvard Apparatus, South Natick, Mass.). The trachea is cannulated and the rat is ventilated with Room Air by using Harvard Rodent Ventilator (Harvard Apparatus, South Natick, Mass.). The left jugular vein is cannulated with PE-50 tubing for drug delivery. The right carotid artery is cannulated for BP measurement. The heart is exposed by opening the chest at the 4^(th) left intercostal space. A main left branch of coronary artery (LAD) is occluded by 4-0 silk ligature for 30 min of ischemia and released for 90 min of reperfusion. During the experiment, arterial BP and EKG are monitored by Micro-Med Cardiovascular System (Louisville, Ky.).

At the end of reperfusion, the LAD coronary artery is re-occluded and about 2 ml of 5% Evans Blue dye is injected through i.v. line to distinguish the ischemic area from non-ischemic area of the heart. Then the heart is immediately taken off and frozen in the freezer. After at least 30 min of freezing, the heart is sliced into five sections with 2 mm thickness and stained in 1% TTC solution for 30 min at 37° C. The right ventricle is trimmed off. Infarct area, risk area and total left ventricular area in each face of the section are measured by using an image analysis system (BIOQUANT, Nashville, Tenn.). The infarct size is calculated as the percent total infarct volume of the total risk volume.

For drug treated group, compounds are administered according to the following three protocols: 1. Single dose of compound is given 60 min prior to the onset of ischemia through i. p. injection. 2. Compound is delivered through i.v. bolus 1 min before the onset of ischemia followed by i.v. infusion until the end of reperfusion. 3. Compound is delivered through i.v. bolus 1 min before the onset of reperfusion followed by i.v. infusion until the end of reperfusion. For each drug-treated group, there is a corresponding vehicle treated group with n=6 or n=8. The difference between vehicle and drug treated groups is compared by using unpaired t-test with p<0.05. Various doses of compounds are tested in this model. The compounds are given in either single or multiple doses, i.p or i.v., at different times before or after the onset of ischemia. The compounds of this invention are expected to have ischemia/reperfusion injury protection in the range of 10 to 40 percent in this assay.

As a result of the PARP inhibition activity, the compounds of this invention are expected to protect against ischemia-induced degeneration of rat cortical neurons in vitro and thus may be useful in disorders arising from cerebral ischemia such as stroke, septic shock, or CNS degenerative disorders. They may also be useful in protecting the spinal cord following trauma. As an experimental result of ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats, the present invention is further directed to a method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of heart attack, cardiac arrest, cardiac bypass, diabetes, or risk of damage which comprises administering an effective amount of a compound of the present invention for PARP inhibition in unit dosage form.

In Vitro Radiosensitization

In vitro radiosensitization may be measured with the use of a human prostate cancer cell line, PC-3s, which are plated in 6 well dishes and grown at monolayer cultures in RPMI1640 supplemented with 10% FCS. The cells are maintained at 37° C. in 5% CO₂ and 95% air. The cells are exposed to a dose response (0.1 mM to 0.1 μM) of 3 different PARP inhibitors prior to irradiation at one sublethal dose level. For all treatment groups, the six well plates are exposed at room temperature in a Seifert 250 kV/15 mA irradiator with a 0.5 mm Cu/1 mm. Cell viability is examined by exclusion of 0.4% trypan blue. Dye exclusion is assessed visually by microscopy and viable cell number was calculated by subtracting the number of cells from the viable cell number and dividing by the total number of cells. Cell proliferation rates are calculated by the amount of ³H-thymidine incorporation post-irradiation. The PARP inhibitors are expected to radiosensitize the cells.

Measuring Altered Gene Expression in mRNA Senescent Cells

Gene expression alteration may be measured with human fibroblast BJ cells which, at Population Doubling (PDL) 94, are plated in regular growth medium and then changed to low serum medium to reflect physiological conditions described in Linskens, et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 23:16:3244-3251(1995). A medium of DMEM/199 supplemented with 0.5% bovine calf serum is used. The cells are treated daily for 13 days. The control cells are treated with and without the solvent used to administer the PARP inhibitor. The untreated old and young control cells are tested for comparison. RNA is prepared from the treated and control cells according to the techniques described in PCT Publication No. 96/13610 and Northern blotting is conducted. Probes specific for senescence-related genes are analyzed, and treated and control cells compared. In analyzing the results, the lowest level of gene expression is arbitrarily set at 1 to provide a basis for comparison. Three genes particularly relevant to age-related changes in the skin are collagen, collagenase and elastin. West, Arch. Derm. 130:87-95 (1994). Elastin expression of the cells treated with the PARP inhibitor is expected to be significantly increased in comparison with the control cells. Elastin expression should be significantly higher in young cells compared to senescent cells, and thus treatment with the PARP inhibitor should cause elastin expression levels in senescent cells to change to levels similar to those found in much younger cells. Similarly, a beneficial effect should be seen in collagenase and collagen expression with treatment with the PARP inhibitors.

Neuroprotective Effects of PARP Inhibitors on Chronic Constriction Injury (CCI) in Rats Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, 300-350 g, are anesthetized with intraperitoneal 50 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital. Nerve ligation is performed by exposing one side of the rat's sciatic nerves and dissecting a 5-7 mm-long nerve segment and closing with four loose ligatures at a 1.0-1.5-mm, followed by implanting of an intrathecal catheter and inserting of a gentamicin sulfate-flushed polyethylene (PE-10) tube into the subarachnoid space through an incision at the cisterna magna. The caudal end of the catheter is gently threaded to the lumbar enlargement and the rostral end is secured with dental cement to a screw embedded in the skull and the skin wound is closed with wound clips.

Thermal hyperalgesia to radiant heat is assessed by using a paw-withdrawal test. The rat is placed in a plastic cylinder on a 3-mm thick glass plate with a radiant heat source from a projection bulb placed directly under the plantar surface of the rat's hindpaw. The paw-withdrawal latency is defined as the time elapsed from the onset of radiant heat stimulation to withdrawal of the rat's hindpaw.

Mechanical hyperalgesia is assessed by placing the rat in a cage with a bottom made of perforated metal sheet with many small square holes. Duration of paw-withdrawal is recorded after pricking the mid-plantar surface of the rat's hindpaw with the tip of a safety pin inserted through the cage bottom.

Mechano-allodynia is assessed by placing a rat in a cage similar to the previous test, and applying von Frey filaments in ascending order of bending force ranging from 0.07 to 76 g to the mid-plantar surface of the rat's hindpaw. A von Frey filament is applied perpendicular to the skin and depressed slowly until it bends. A threshold force of response is defined as the first filament in the series to evoke at least one clear paw-withdrawal out of five applications.

Dark neurons are observed bilaterally within the spinal cord dorsal horn, particularly in laminae I-II, of rats 8 days after unilateral sciatic nerve ligation as compared with sham operated rats. Various doses of PARP inhibitors are tested in this model and shown to reduce both incidence of dark neurons and neuropathic pain behavior in CCI rats.

Treatment and Prevention of Gout and Symptoms of Gout

Deposition of crystals of monosodium urate (MSU crystals) in the joint articular space is the etiological cause of inflammatory pathologies such as gout and pseudogout. Clinically, these inflammatory diseases are associated with oedema and erythema of the joints with consequently severe pain. A strong infiltration of leucocytes in the intraarticular and periarticular space leading to: 1) acute, episodic articular and periarticular inflammation, and 2) chronic articular changes, are also characteristic of this pathology. It has long been clear that neutrophils are the predominant cell type recovered from these inflammatory joints (Dieppe et al., (1979). Synovial fluid crystals. Q. J. Med. XLVIII: 533-553; Terkletaub, (1991). Monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor/interleukin-8 is a potential mediator of crystal-induced inflammation. Arth. Rheum. 34: 894-903.). A better understanding of the inflammatory processes elicited by MSU crystals, and the fact that there is a clear relationship between these crystals and gouty arthritis, has prompted the characterisation of experimental models of crystal-induced inflammation. Examples of models where crystal challenge has led to cell recruitment into specific cavities, are canine joints (Phelps & McCarty, 1966, Ann Int. Med. 9: 115-125), rat pleurisy (Deporter et al., 1979, Br. J Pharmacol. 65: 163-165; Sedgwick et al., 1985, Agents Actions 17: 209-213), and utilisation of a pre-formed rat air-pouch (Brookes et al., 1987). The latter experimental system has shown that neutrophil accumulation was related to generation of chemoattractants such as LTB₄, which was subsequently inhibited by colchicine (Brooks et al., 1987, Br. J. Pharmacol. 90: 413-419).

Neutrophils have been shown to be activated by MSU crystals, releasing an array of mediators that may be, in part, responsible for the local and systemic inflammatory manifestations found in crystal-induced joint disorders. The crystals interact with neutrophils leading to the release of lysomal enzymes (Hoffstein et al., 1975, Arth. Rheum. 18: 153-165), release of oxygen derived free radicals (Simchowitz et al., 1982, Arth. Rheum. 25: 181-188; Abramson et al., 1982, Arthr Rheum. 25: 174-180), induction of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) in leucocytes (Bomalaski et al., 1990, J. Immunol. 145: 3391-3397), and activation of synthesis of 5-lipoxygenase products (Poubelle et al., 1987, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 149: 649-657).

In vitro, MSU crystals have been shown to release the cytoline interleulin-1β (IL-1β) from human neutrophils, adding this stimulus to a list of others that also release this cytokine, such as zymosan, LPS, phorbol esters, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating hormone (GM-CSF) and TNF-alpha. Furthermore it has also been shown that human monocytes and synoviocytes can synthesise and release various cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 (Guerne et al., 1989, Arth. Rheum. 32: 1443-1452; Terkeltaub et al., 1991, Arth. Rheum. 34: 894-903). In addition, colchicine selectively inhibits MSU crystal- and TNF-induced release of IL-1β (Roberge et al., 1994, J. Immunol. 152: 5485-5494).

In experimental models of gout the synthesis of a CXC chemokine selective for neutrophils, such as IL-8, has also been observed, but not that of a CC chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (Hachicha et al., 1995, J. Exp. Med. 182: 2019-2025). These results suggest that production of IL-8 and abolition of the release of MCP-1, will lead to an event where, theoretically there will be a recruitment of neutrophils but not mononuclear cells. This hypothesis is in accordance with the pathological state of gout and pseudogout, where the predominant inflammatory cell is the neutrophil (Hachicha et al., 1995). In addition MSU crystal activation of mononuclear phagocytes, which are normally found in the joint space, also induces secretion of IL-8 (Terkeltaub et al., 1991). The importance of IL-8 in this pathology has been shown in synovial fluids of patients with acute gouty arthritis where it occurs in elevated amounts (Terkeltaub et al., 1991; di Giovine et al., 1991, J. Clin. Invest. 87: 1375-1381). The use of a neutralising antibody against IL-8 has been shown significantly to attenuate the crystal induced joint swelling at 12 h and neutrophil infiltration into arthritic joints at 12 and 24 h in a rabbit model (Nishimura et al., 1997, J. Leukoc. Biol. 62: 444-449).

These studies demonstrate the importance of both the emigrating neutrophil and the chemokine IL-8, as well as the release of this and other cytokines from resident cells such as the synoviocytes, macrophages and mast cells in treating gout. Since neutrophils are not present or are extremely rare in normal synovial fluid, enhanced neutrophil-endothelial adhesion is necessary for gout to occur (Terkeltaub, 1996, In. Koopman, W. J. editor. Arthritis and allied conditions: a textbook of rheumatology. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins: pp. 2085-2102, and Terkeltaub, 1992, In Inflammation. Basic Principles and Clinical Correlates, ed. by J. I. Gallin, I. M. Goldstein and R. Snyderman, pp 977-981, Raven Press, New York). IL-1β and TNF-alpha may be critical in mediating the rapid up-regulation of the major endothelial ligand for neutrophils. For instance rapid and prolonged expression of E-selectin in response to injection of urate crystals has been demonstrated in pig skin (Chapman et al., 1996, Br. J. Rheumatol. 35: 323-334). The release of cytokines, chemokines and products of the arachidonic acid cascade system lead to the recruitment of neutrophils in this pathology, and inhibition of these leads to an attenuation of the pathology.

The following gout model was used to test a PARP inhibitor according to the present invention.

Male outbread Swiss albino mice (20-22 g body weight) were purchased from Banton and Kingsman (T. O. strain; Hull, Humberside) and maintained on a standard chow pellet diet with tap water ad libitum and a 12:00 h light/dark cycle. All animals were housed for 1 week prior to experimentation to allow body weight to reach 28-30 g.

1,11b-dihydrobenzopyrano[4,3,2-de ]isoquinolin-1-one was dissolved in 100% DMSO at room temperature at a concentration of 45 mg in 2 ml. The compound was then injected into the peritoneal cavity, so as each mouse received a single dose corresponding to 45 mg/2 ml/kg (e.g. 60 μl for a mouse of 30 g). Control mice received DMSO at 2 ml/kg i.p. A third group of mice which were left untreated were added to control for potential effects of the vehicle. The study involved therefore, the following three groups: group A, untreated mice, n=6, group B, DMSO-treated mice, n=8, and group C, mice treated with 1,11b-dihydrobenzopyrano[4,3,2-de]isoquinolin-1-one, n=8

MSU crystal-induced neutrophil recruitment was tested as follows. In all cases, mice were treated 1 h after the treatment noted above, with MSU crystals. A homogenous suspension of MSU crystals was obtained by a 30 min rotation. Peritonitis was induced by injection of 3 mg MSU crystals in 0.5 ml PBS (0.1 M, pH 7.4), and the recruitment of neutrophils into the cavity evaluated at the 6 h time point (Getting et al., 1997, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 283: 123-130). Animals were then euthanised by CO₂ exposure and the peritoneal cavity washed with 3 ml of PBS supplemented with 3 mM EDTA and 25 U/ml heparin.

An aliquot (100 μl) of the lavage fluid was then diluted 1:10 in Turk's solution (0.01% crystal violet in 3% acetic acid). The samples were then vortexed and 10 μl of the stained cell solution were placed in a Neubauer haematocymometer and neutrophils numbers counted using a light microscope (Olympus B061). Cell-free supernatants have been prepared by centrifugation and stored for potential future analysis.

Data are shown for single mice, and also shown as mean±S.E. of (n) mice per group. Statistical differences were determined by ANOVA, plus Bonferroni test A P value <0.05 was taken as significant.

The following TABLE reports the number of neutrophils as measured 6 h post-MSU crystal injection in the three experimental groups.

Effect of 1,11b-dihydrobenzopyrano[4,3,2-de]isoquinolin-1-one on MSU crystal induced neutrophil migration as evaluated at the 6 h time-point.

Mouse Neutrophil Neutrophil Neutrophil No. Group Numbers Group Numbers Group Numbers 1 A 4.9 B 6.0 C 5.1 2 A 5.4 B 6.6 C 2.1 3 A 6.3 B 7.5 C 2.4 4 A 6.9 B 7.8 C 2.4 5 A 5.7 B 5.1 C 3.0 6 A 6.0 B 5.7 C 3.0 7 B 5.7 C 2.7 8 B 6.0 C 2.1 Legend: Mice were left untreated (group A), received vehicle DMSO (2 ml/kg i.p.; group B) or 1,11b-dihydrobenzopyrano[4,3,2-de ]isoquinolin-1-one (45 mg/kg i.p.; group C), 1 h prior to peritoneal injection of 3 mg MSU crystals at time 0. Neutrophil influx in the peritoneal cavity was measured at the 6 h time-point after collection of the lavage fluids and specific staining as described in the experimental section. Values for neutrophil numbers are 10⁶ per mouse. The following TABLE illustrates these data as mean±S.E. It can be seen that DMSO produced a modest not significant increase in cell migration (+7%). In contrast, the exemplary compound of the present invention, at the dose of 45 mg/kg, significantly reduced cell influx, with a calculated 55% of inhibition vs. the vehicle group.

Accumulation of data for the effect of the exemplified compound of the present invention (means). Experimental Neutrophils Group Stimulus (10⁶ per mouse) A MSU crystals (3 mg) 5.87 ± 0.28 (6) B MSU crystals (3 mg) 6.30 ± 0.33 (8) C MSU crystals (3 mg)  2.85 ± 0.34 (8)* Legend: as in TABLE IV. Values are mean ± S.E. of (n) mice per group. *P < 0.05 vs. group B.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. All references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. 

1. A compound of the following general formula (II):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, prodrug, or mixtures thereof, wherein: m is 1 and L is —C(R₇R₈)—N(R₉)— or —N(R₉)—C(R₇R₈)— or m is 2, L is —(N(R₉))_(n), and n is 1; R₂ is hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, amino, alkylamino, or carboxy; R₇ and R₈ are independently any of an hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, or an optionally substituted amino, nitroso, sulfonamide, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, C₁-C₆ straight or branched alkanol, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, CH₂COOH, aralkyl; R₉ is an hydrogen, hydroxyl, optionally substituted amino, nitroso, methyl or lower alkyl, sulfonamide, lower alkenyl, C₁-C₆ straight or branched alkanol, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, CH₂COOH, aralkyl or —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀alkyl)N(R₅R₆); and R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, C₁-C₆ straight or branched alkanol, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkylhalo, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkynyl, aryl, benzyl, arylalkyl, CH₂COOH, or R₅ and R₆ taken together form a 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 membered substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl or cycloalkyl ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, N, S and combinations thereof, wherein alkyl groups are optionally substituted by mercapto, carboxy, hydroxyl, or phenyl, benzyl or phenylethyl, wherein amino groups are optionally substituted by C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, wherein aryl and heteroaryl groups are optionally substituted in 1-5 positions with halo, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, —C(O)—O—(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), carboxy, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, thiocarbonyl, thioester, cyano, imino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, and thioalkyl, and wherein the heterocycloalkyl is a cycloalkyl containing at least 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms selected from O, N, or S substituted for a ring carbon atom, and may be substituted by or fused to at least one 5 or 6 membered aryl or heteroaryl and/or substituted by at least one of amino, C₁ -C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkanol, C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkylamino, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₀ alkenyl, or benzyl, or phenyl or phenylethyl.
 2. A compound of claim 1; where m is 1; L is —C(R₇R₈)—N(R₉)— or —N(R₉)—C(R₇R₈)—; R₂ is hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, amino, alkylamino, or carboxy; R₇ and R₈ are independently any of an optionally substituted hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, amino, nitroso, methyl sulfonamide, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, C₁-C₆ straight or branched alkanol, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aryl alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, CH₂COOH, aralkyl; R₉ is an optionally substituted hydrogen, hydroxyl, amino, nitroso, methyl, lower alkyl, sulfonamide, lower alkenyl, C₁-C₆ straight or branched alkanol, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, CH₂COOH, aralkyl or —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀alkyl)N(R₅R₆); and R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, C₁-C₆ straight or branched alkanol, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, alkylhalo, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkynyl, aryl, benzyl, arylalkyl, CH₂COOH, or R₅ and R₆ taken together form a 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 membered substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl or cycloalkyl ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, N, S and combinations thereof, wherein the heterocycloalkyl is a cycloalkyl containing at least 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms selected from O, N, or S substituted for a ring carbon atom, and may be substituted by or fused to at least one 5 or 6 membered aryl or heteroaryl and/or substituted by at least one of amino, C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkanol, C₁-C₁₀ straight or branched chain alkylamino, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₀ alkenyl, or benzyl, or phenyl or phenylethyl.
 3. A compound selected from the group consisting of:


4. The compound of claim 1 wherein L is —(N(R₉))—C(R₇R₈)—.
 5. The compound of claim 4 wherein R₉ is —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀alkyl)N(R₅R₆).
 6. The compound of claim 5 wherein R₇ is H.
 7. The compound of claim 6 wherein R₈ is H.
 8. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises: (i) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound according to claim 1 and (ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 8 wherein the carrier is a sterile solution, suspension, emulsion, a capsule or tablet. 